Best time to go to Canada for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 27/05/2024When is the best time to go to Canada?
Do you dream of vast spaces, bustling cities, and an exciting culture? Taking a trip to Canada will fulfill all your wishes! It is one of those countries that remains attractive no matter the season. When to go to Canada? It will solely depend on what you expect from your trip:
- In winter, adventure enthusiasts can experience the myth of the great north. On the agenda: skiing, memorable rides on dog sleds or snowmobiles, and snowshoeing. However, be prepared for extreme temperatures, as the thermometer can drop to -20°C! This is the season with the least tourist traffic.
- In spring, nature awakens and temperatures are much milder, although snow may still be present in the coldest areas. Fairly short, spring quickly gives way to summer. Nevertheless, it is not the best time to visit Canada, as mud can be very present in many regions due to the thaw.
- Summer is a very pleasant season to discover the country. With temperatures reaching up to 30°C in August, it is the perfect time to stroll in national parks and paddle a canoe on rivers. Moreover, it is the season of festivals all over the country, including the famous Montreal Jazz Festival. If you want to see whales, this is the best time to visit Canada, especially in the Tadoussac region.
- Autumn is a season full of romance! Maple and birch forests adorn themselves with incredible colors that will delight photographers, meaning you will be amazed! Despite cool evenings, the days are generally very sunny, with temperatures hovering around 20°C in the afternoon.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Alberta
Calgary, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park...
Atlantic Canada
Halifax, St. John's (Newfoundland and Labrador), Saint John...
British Columbia
Vancouver, Whistler, Kamloops...
Manitoba
Winnipeg (Manitoba), Churchill, Thompson...
North of Canada
Yellowknife, Whitehorse (Yukon), Resolute (Nunavut)...
Ontario
Ottawa, Toronto, Thunder Bay...
Quebec
Quebec City, Montreal, Gaspé (Gaspé Peninsula)...
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Regina, Lloydminster...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Canada for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Canada in january Canada in february Canada in march Canada in april Canada in may Canada in june Canada in july Canada in august Canada in september Canada in october Canada in november Canada in december
Best time to travel to Canada by cities
Climate and Weather in Canada
Stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, the climate in Canada is primarily humid continental, but also includes dry continental, subarctic, arctic, oceanic, and mountainous climates.
Thus, depending on the region and the time of year, the weather in Canada can experience high temperatures, high humidity, or dry and freezing cold. Additionally, the seasons are very distinct.
Climate of Southeastern Canada
In this border area with the United States, the climate is predominantly humid continental. Thus, it is similar to that of Chicago, Illinois. Here you will find:
- very hot summers,
- harsh winters, snowy and cold,
- abundant rainfall throughout the year, like in Toronto or Montreal.
A bit further west, in the wilder prairies of Canada, the climate is more dry continental. The temperatures are quite similar, but the precipitation is much less frequent.
Climate of Northern and Central Canada
In northern Canada, as well as in the central part, there is a subarctic climate:
- Summers are cooler than elsewhere in the country and the rainfall is abundant. During this season, the blizzard helps to cool the atmosphere and it is not uncommon for tornadoes to form, especially around Churchill or Yellowknife.
- Winters are very cold and snow is present everywhere.
Climate of the Far North of Canada
In the extreme north, the climate becomes arctic, due to the proximity to the polar circle:
- Winters are very long and extremely cold: there are more than 240 days per year with temperatures below -20°C, as in Victoria.
- Summers, being too short, result in sparse vegetation, even though the rainfall is not abundant.
Due to this extreme climate, it is the least welcoming region of Canada, unless you want to experience something extraordinary and push your limits!
Climate of the West Coast of Canada
On the west coast of Canada, the Pacific coast has a mild and humid climate, with little temperature variation throughout the year:
- In winter, it rains a lot, but temperatures generally remain positive, unlike the rest of the country. Thus, the city of Vancouver experiences only about ten days of snow per year.
- Summers are rather cool and fog banks are very common.
Climate of the East Coast of Canada
On the Atlantic side, winters are very cold and windy and temperatures rarely exceed 2°C.
Due to the meeting of the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current, humidity is present all year round, in the form of snow in winter (the city of Quebec is covered in snow for 150 days a year!), or in the form of rain the rest of the time.
In summer, temperatures can be very high and exceed 30°C, making it the perfect time to enjoy the lakes and rivers! Autumn is an ideal period, with its famous Indian summer when the trees are adorned with their most beautiful red and orange colors.
Climate in the Rockies
In the Rockies, especially around Whitehorse, the climate is mountainous, thus cold and dry. It is in this region that records for the lowest temperatures and the heaviest snowfalls are regularly found!
In summer, the weather is generally nice, but it can quickly turn to storms with hail, or even snow showers. It is better to wait until early July to visit this region, as some roads, not yet cleared of snow, may still be closed.
Temperatures and rainfall in Canada
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Canada and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Ottawa, Quebec City, Banff National Park, Calgary and Halifax, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Canada
Find out when Canada has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Canada
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December. The number of visitors to Canada is high in: June, July, August and September.
- Very low season in Canada: January, February, March, April, November and December.
- Low season in Canada: May and October.
- High season in Canada: June and September.
- Peak season in Canada: July and August.
Figure: Visitor index for Canada month by month
Average price for flights to Canada
A return flight between Sydney and Vancouver is generally cheaper if you go in march ($ 1482 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 566 more for your airline ticket to Vancouver if you go in december.
Where to go in Canada?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Ottawa | -5°C | -4°C | 2°C | 10°C | 18°C | 22°C | 26°C | 25°C | 21°C | 13°C | 6°C | -2°C |
| Quebec City | -7°C | -6°C | -1°C | 7°C | 17°C | 21°C | 24°C | 24°C | 19°C | 12°C | 4°C | -3°C |
| Banff National Park | -7°C | -8°C | -4°C | -1°C | 6°C | 12°C | 16°C | 16°C | 10°C | 1°C | -5°C | -9°C |
| Calgary | -3°C | -4°C | 2°C | 9°C | 16°C | 20°C | 24°C | 24°C | 19°C | 10°C | 2°C | -4°C |
| Halifax | 1°C | 1°C | 3°C | 8°C | 12°C | 17°C | 21°C | 23°C | 20°C | 14°C | 9°C | 5°C |
| Jasper National Park | -7°C | -7°C | -0°C | 5°C | 12°C | 15°C | 19°C | 19°C | 14°C | 5°C | -4°C | -9°C |
| Thunder Bay | -8°C | -8°C | -1°C | 5°C | 13°C | 18°C | 22°C | 22°C | 17°C | 9°C | 2°C | -5°C |
| Toronto | -1°C | -1°C | 4°C | 10°C | 16°C | 22°C | 26°C | 26°C | 23°C | 15°C | 8°C | 2°C |
| Vancouver | 6°C | 6°C | 8°C | 11°C | 15°C | 18°C | 22°C | 22°C | 19°C | 13°C | 8°C | 5°C |
| Whistler | 1°C | 1°C | 2°C | 6°C | 13°C | 16°C | 22°C | 22°C | 17°C | 10°C | 3°C | -0°C |
| Whitehorse (Yukon) | -10°C | -8°C | -4°C | 3°C | 13°C | 18°C | 20°C | 17°C | 11°C | 3°C | -7°C | -10°C |
| Winnipeg (Manitoba) | -10°C | -10°C | -1°C | 8°C | 17°C | 23°C | 26°C | 26°C | 21°C | 11°C | 1°C | -8°C |
| Yellowknife | -18°C | -17°C | -11°C | -2°C | 10°C | 19°C | 21°C | 18°C | 11°C | 2°C | -9°C | -16°C |
| Gaspé (Gaspé Peninsula) | -5°C | -5°C | -2°C | 3°C | 11°C | 16°C | 21°C | 21°C | 16°C | 10°C | 4°C | -1°C |
| Montreal | -5°C | -4°C | 2°C | 11°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 26°C | 22°C | 14°C | 6°C | -1°C |
| Churchill | -20°C | -19°C | -12°C | -4°C | 3°C | 10°C | 15°C | 15°C | 11°C | 3°C | -7°C | -16°C |
| Edmonton | -6°C | -7°C | -1°C | 8°C | 17°C | 21°C | 24°C | 23°C | 18°C | 9°C | -0°C | -6°C |
| Kamloops | -3°C | -2°C | 3°C | 8°C | 15°C | 18°C | 23°C | 23°C | 17°C | 9°C | 2°C | -3°C |
| Lake Louise | -6°C | -6°C | -2°C | 1°C | 9°C | 14°C | 18°C | 18°C | 12°C | 3°C | -4°C | -8°C |
| Lloydminster | -8°C | -9°C | -2°C | 7°C | 17°C | 20°C | 23°C | 23°C | 18°C | 8°C | -2°C | -8°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Canada
What can I do in Canada?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Canada reliable?
Climate data for Canada has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Canada allows us to determine the average for each month in Ottawa, Quebec City, Banff National Park, Calgary, Halifax, Jasper National Park, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and 141 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.