Climate and Weather of 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°C during winter but can even drop below -40°C with severe wind chills. In non-coastal regions, snow can cover the ground almost six months of the year.
Ocean currents are an element with great influence on Canada's climate. In the west the seawater is relatively warm, making the west coast of Canada much warmer and more pleasant than the east coast. In the east relatively cool seawater is brought in via the Labrador Current. Therefore In the province of British Columbia the weather is a lot milder in character. In summer, most of the heat is tempered by the seawater, but in winter the sea and mountains ensure that the coastal area in southwestern Canada has mild winters. This means that this part of Canada considerably warmer during the winter months than all other regions of Canada, where it is cold to very cold in winter.
On the east and west coasts in summer average maximum temperatures are generally in the low 20°C, while inland, the average summer high temperature ranges from 25°C to 30°C, with occasional extreme heat in some interior locations exceeding 40°C.
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 121 mm. The least amount of rain in July falls in Victoria with an average of 14 mm.
Are you interested in more detailed information for various cities in Canada?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.