Winter
Dec → Feb-4 to 0°
nights -13 to -7°
- 12 rainy days · 82 mm
- 5.2 h of sun
- sea 7°
When is the best time to visit Canada?
In short: June to September for the Rockies, the whales of the St Lawrence and the 22 to 26 °C of Montreal; December to March for skiing, the Quebec winter and the northern lights of the Yukon. September and October are the best compromise: whales still present, forests turning red from mid-September to late October and fewer crowds than in July and August.
- Whales of the St Lawrence: From May to October at Tadoussac and on the Côte-Nord, where the whales come to feed in the deep waters of the river.
- Autumn colours in Quebec: From mid-September to late October, the maples blaze, with a peak that varies by region and by year.
- The Rockies (Banff, Jasper): From June to September, when the lakes have thawed and the hiking trails in the national parks are clear.
- Northern lights in the Yukon: From August to April, with the best chances between 22:00 and 03:00, away from the lights of Whitehorse.
- Quebec winter: From December to February: skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and the Quebec Winter Carnival, with highs of -4 °C in Montreal in January.
Best avoided: November and April: the colours have gone or the snow is melting, skiing has not started or is ending, and Montreal peaks at 6 to 11 °C with a dozen rainy days a month.
Sources: bonjourquebec.com, bonjourquebec.com, travelyukon.com
- Jan-4°recommended
- Feb-3°recommended
- Mar3°recommended
- Apr11°not recommended
- May19°fair
- Jun24°recommended
- Jul26°recommended
- Aug25°recommended
- Sep22°recommended
- Oct14°recommended
- Nov6°not recommended
- Dec0°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Canada, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -4° | -13° | 5 h | 78 mm | 12 d | 7° | ✓ |
| February | -3° | -12° | 6.2 h | 75 mm | 11 d | 7° | ✓ |
| March | 3° | -6° | 7.7 h | 80 mm | 11 d | 7° | ✓ |
| April | 11° | 1° | 8.2 h | 114 mm | 12 d | 9° | |
| May | 19° | 9° | 10.4 h | 76 mm | 10 d | 14° | |
| June | 24° | 14° | 10.7 h | 118 mm | 14 d | 16° | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 18° | 11.9 h | 106 mm | 12 d | 19° | ✓ |
| August | 25° | 17° | 10.9 h | 121 mm | 13 d | 19° | ✓ |
| September | 22° | 13° | 9.5 h | 77 mm | 9 d | 17° | ✓ |
| October | 14° | 7° | 6.8 h | 126 mm | 12 d | 13° | ✓ |
| November | 6° | -1° | 5.4 h | 81 mm | 12 d | 9° | |
| December | 0° | -7° | 4.3 h | 92 mm | 13 d | 8° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Canada, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Montreal) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May3 to 19°
nights -6 to 9°
- 11 rainy days · 90 mm
- 8.8 h of sun
- sea 10°
Summer
Jun → Aug24 to 26°
nights 14 to 18°
- 13 rainy days · 115 mm
- 11.2 h of sun
- sea 18°
Autumn
Sep → Nov6 to 22°
nights -1 to 13°
- 11 rainy days · 95 mm
- 7.2 h of sun
- sea 13°
Book early for December to March and June to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Canada, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h40 of daylight, in December 8h43, a difference of 6h56.
9h04Jan
10h19Feb
11h47Mar
13h27Apr
14h53May
15h40Jun
15h20Jul
14h06Aug
12h28Sep
10h51Oct
9h25Nov
8h43Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Montreal" (45.50°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Canada, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsAutumn coloursSeptember to OctoberQuébec Winter CarnivalJanuary to FebruaryCalgary StampedeJulySugaring-off seasonMarch to AprilDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: September
- Towns & culture: April, May, July, September, October
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Canada, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- September to OctoberAutumn colours big crowds
The maples of Quebec and Ontario turn red from north to south, between mid-September and mid-October.
- January to FebruaryQuébec Winter Carnival big crowds
An ice palace, a canoe race on the ice-bound river and night parades take over the city for two weeks.
- JulyCalgary Stampede big crowds
Rodeo, chuckwagon races and pancake breakfasts served around town keep Calgary busy for ten days, in July.
- March to AprilSugaring-off season
The sap rises, the sugar shacks open up their long tables and the syrup hardens on the snow, as winter comes to an end.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Canada, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Montreal and Quebec City | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇨🇦 Vancouver | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended-4°-13° at night
- 78 mm · 12 d
- 5 h
- sea 7°
High season, book early
February
Recommended-3°-12° at night
- 75 mm · 11 d
- 6.2 h
- sea 7°
High season, book early
March
Recommended3°-6° at night
- 80 mm · 11 d
- 7.7 h
- sea 7°
Busy, without the crush
April
Not recommended11°1° at night
- 114 mm · 12 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair19°9° at night
- 76 mm · 10 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended24°14° at night
- 118 mm · 14 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended26°18° at night
- 106 mm · 12 d
- 11.9 h
- sea 19°
High season, book early
August
Recommended25°17° at night
- 121 mm · 13 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 19°
High season, book early
September
Recommended22°13° at night
- 77 mm · 9 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 17°
High season, book early
October
Recommended14°7° at night
- 126 mm · 12 d
- 6.8 h
- sea 13°
High season, book early
November
Not recommended6°-1° at night
- 81 mm · 12 d
- 5.4 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
December
Recommended0°-7° at night
- 92 mm · 13 d
- 4.3 h
- sea 8°
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: -4 °C at the warmest of the day, -13 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (78 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5 h a day). Sea at 7 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
February. Deep winter: -3 °C at the warmest of the day, -12 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Expect 6.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 7 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
March. Deep winter: 3 °C at the warmest of the day, -6 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (80 mm). Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 7 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Cool: 11 °C at best, 1 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (114 mm). Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (76 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 118 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (106 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.9 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
August. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (121 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
October. Cool: 14 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (126 mm). Expect 6.8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
November. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -1 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (81 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.4 h a day). Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 0 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (92 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (4.3 h a day). Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
The Laurentians and Mont-TremblantBest time: Skiing (January to March) and nature (June to October)When to visit the Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant →The Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant guide
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Canada?
June to September for the Rockies, the whales of the St Lawrence and the 22 to 26 °C of Montreal; December to March for skiing, the Quebec winter and the northern lights of the Yukon. September and October are the best compromise: whales still present, forests turning red from mid-September to late October and fewer crowds than in July and August.
Which month should you avoid in Canada?
November and April: the colours have gone or the snow is melting, skiing has not started or is ending, and Montreal peaks at 6 to 11 °C with a dozen rainy days a month.
What is the hottest month in Canada?
July, with 26 °C on average in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Montreal).
What is the coldest month in Canada?
January, with -4 °C at best during the day and -13 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Montreal).
What is the driest month in Canada?
February: 75 mm over 11 days of rain, against 126 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Canada?
July, with 11.9 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Canada?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 19 °C in July, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Vancouver): swimming is for the brave.
When is the best time to hike in Canada?
September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Montreal), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Canada guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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