Climate and Average Weather in Canada
The biggest part of Canada has a continental climate. The temperate continental climate and the cool continental climate are most common. In the northern parts of Canada, this changes into a tundra climate. Above the Arctic Circle, there are areas where it is so cold that there is an snow and ice climate.
Winters can be harsh in many regions of the country, particularly in the interior and Prairie provinces. In these areas the daily average temperatures can be near -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) during winter but can even drop below -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit) with severe wind chills. In non-coastal regions, snow can cover the ground almost six months of the year.
On the east and west coasts in summer average maximum temperatures are generally in the low 20 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit), while inland, the average summer high temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius (77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), with occasional extreme heat in some interior locations exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
During summer rainfall is high in Toronto, falling frequently during the month. So the weather can be unpredictable from moment to moment. Most rain in Canada in July falls in Quebec City with an average of 121mm (4.8inch). The least amount of rain in July falls in Victoria with an average of 14mm (0.6inch).
Interested in more detailed Weather and Climate information?
Please select the city below you wish to travel to, or the one closest to your destination. Each selected city will show you the following graphs:
1. Average minimum and maximum temperatures over the year
2. Average monthly precipitation over the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Average monthly hours of sunshine over the year
On certain pages we also offer other historical weather data like humidity, wind speed and water temperature.