Winter
Dec → Feb-6 to -1°
nights -14 to -10°
- 13 rainy days · 90 mm
- 5.2 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Montreal and Quebec City?
- Jan-6°not recommended
- Feb-4°not recommended
- Mar2°not recommended
- Apr9°not recommended
- May18°fair
- Jun23°recommended
- Jul25°recommended
- Aug24°recommended
- Sep20°recommended
- Oct13°recommended
- Nov5°fair
- Dec-1°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Montreal and Quebec City, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -6° | -14° | 5 h | 72 mm | 11 d | |
| February | -4° | -14° | 6.2 h | 82 mm | 14 d | |
| March | 2° | -7° | 7.4 h | 94 mm | 12 d | |
| April | 9° | -1° | 8.1 h | 81 mm | 12 d | |
| May | 18° | 7° | 10.3 h | 95 mm | 11 d | |
| June | 23° | 13° | 10.6 h | 148 mm | 13 d | ✓ |
| July | 25° | 16° | 11.4 h | 160 mm | 17 d | ✓ |
| August | 24° | 15° | 10.4 h | 155 mm | 15 d | ✓ |
| September | 20° | 11° | 8.8 h | 107 mm | 9 d | ✓ |
| October | 13° | 5° | 6.3 h | 109 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| November | 5° | -3° | 5 h | 88 mm | 12 d | |
| December | -1° | -10° | 4.3 h | 115 mm | 13 d |
The four seasons in Montreal and Quebec City, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Château Frontenac, Quebec City) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May2 to 18°
nights -7 to 7°
- 12 rainy days · 90 mm
- 8.6 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug23 to 25°
nights 13 to 16°
- 15 rainy days · 154 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov5 to 20°
nights -3 to 11°
- 11 rainy days · 101 mm
- 6.7 h of sun
Book early for 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 Montreal and Quebec City, 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 15h51 of daylight, in December 8h33, a difference of 7h17.
8h56Jan
10h14Feb
11h46Mar
13h31Apr
15h01May
15h51Jun
15h30Jul
14h12Aug
12h29Sep
10h47Oct
9h17Nov
8h33Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Château Frontenac, Quebec City" (46.81°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Montreal and Quebec City, month by month
EventsQuebec Winter CarnivalFebruaryMontreal International Jazz FestivalJune to JulyQuebec City Summer FestivalJulyAutumn coloursSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: April, May, September, October
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Montreal and Quebec City, 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.
- FebruaryQuebec Winter Carnival big crowds
For two weeks in February, Quebec City brings out Bonhomme, its ice palaces and its canoe race on the ice-bound river.
- June to JulyMontreal International Jazz Festival big crowds
Between late June and early July, free stages fill the Quartier des Spectacles for around ten days.
- JulyQuebec City Summer Festival big crowds
Eleven days of concerts in July, with the main stages set up on the Plains of Abraham, above the river.
- September to OctoberAutumn colours big crowds
The maples of the Laurentians, Charlevoix and the Eastern Townships turn red between late September and mid-October.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Montreal and Quebec City, 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 | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇨🇦 Quebec City | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇨🇦 Charlevoix and Tadoussac | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇨🇦 The Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ |
MontrealBest time: June to October (plus the Indian summer)When to visit Montreal →The Montreal guide
Quebec CityBest time: June to October and Carnival (February)When to visit Quebec City →The Quebec City guide
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended-6°-14° at night
- 72 mm · 11 d
- 5 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended-4°-14° at night
- 82 mm · 14 d
- 6.2 h
Busy, without the crush
March
Not recommended2°-7° at night
- 94 mm · 12 d
- 7.4 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended9°-1° at night
- 81 mm · 12 d
- 8.1 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair18°7° at night
- 95 mm · 11 d
- 10.3 h
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended23°13° at night
- 148 mm · 13 d
- 10.6 h
High season, book early
July
Recommended25°16° at night
- 160 mm · 17 d
- 11.4 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended24°15° at night
- 155 mm · 15 d
- 10.4 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended20°11° at night
- 107 mm · 9 d
- 8.8 h
High season, book early
October
Recommended13°5° at night
- 109 mm · 11 d
- 6.3 h
High season, book early
November
Fair5°-3° at night
- 88 mm · 12 d
- 5 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended-1°-10° at night
- 115 mm · 13 d
- 4.3 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: -6 °C at the warmest of the day, -14 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (72 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: -4 °C at the warmest of the day, -14 °C at night. A very wet month, 82 mm of rain over 14 days. Expect 6.2 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Deep winter: 2 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (94 mm). Expect 7.4 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 9 °C at best, -1 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (81 mm). Expect 8.1 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 7 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (95 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (148 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. High season: book early.
July. 25 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 160 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 155 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (107 mm). Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. High season: book early.
October. Cool: 13 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (109 mm). Expect 6.3 h of sunshine a day. High season: book early.
November. Deep winter: 5 °C at the warmest of the day, -3 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (88 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: -1 °C at the warmest of the day, -10 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (115 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (4.3 h a day). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Montreal and Quebec City?
June to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 13 to 25 °C, with 13 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Château Frontenac, Quebec City).
Which month should you avoid in Montreal and Quebec City?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 115 mm over 13 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Château Frontenac, Quebec City).
What is the hottest month in Montreal and Quebec City?
July, with 25 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Château Frontenac, Quebec City).
What is the coldest month in Montreal and Quebec City?
January, with -6 °C at best during the day and -14 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Château Frontenac, Quebec City).
What is the driest month in Montreal and Quebec City?
January: 72 mm over 11 days of rain, against 160 mm in July, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Montreal and Quebec City?
July, with 11.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Montreal and Quebec City guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Canada: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)