Winter
Dec → Feb-6 to -3°
nights -15 to -10°
- 13 rainy days · 92 mm
- 5.2 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Quebec City?
- Jan-6°fair
- Feb-5°recommended
- Mar1°fair
- Apr8°not recommended
- May18°fair
- Jun22°recommended
- Jul25°recommended
- Aug24°recommended
- Sep20°recommended
- Oct12°recommended
- Nov4°fair
- Dec-3°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Quebec City, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -6° | -15° | 5 h | 86 mm | 13 d | |
| February | -5° | -15° | 6.2 h | 83 mm | 13 d | ✓ |
| March | 1° | -8° | 7.4 h | 90 mm | 12 d | |
| April | 8° | -2° | 8.1 h | 100 mm | 13 d | |
| May | 18° | 7° | 10.3 h | 104 mm | 12 d | |
| June | 22° | 12° | 10.6 h | 147 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| July | 25° | 16° | 11.4 h | 150 mm | 16 d | ✓ |
| August | 24° | 15° | 10.4 h | 141 mm | 15 d | ✓ |
| September | 20° | 11° | 8.8 h | 108 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| October | 12° | 5° | 6.3 h | 132 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| November | 4° | -3° | 5 h | 97 mm | 12 d | |
| December | -3° | -10° | 4.3 h | 107 mm | 13 d |
The four seasons in Quebec City, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Château Frontenac) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May1 to 18°
nights -8 to 7°
- 12 rainy days · 98 mm
- 8.6 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug22 to 25°
nights 12 to 16°
- 15 rainy days · 146 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov4 to 20°
nights -3 to 11°
- 11 rainy days · 112 mm
- 6.7 h of sun
Book early for February 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.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
Daylight in 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" (46.81°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Quebec City, month by month
EventsQuebec Winter CarnivalFebruaryQuebec City Summer FestivalJulyNew France FestivalAugustAutumn coloursSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: May, September, October
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in 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, Bonhomme, the ice palaces and the canoe race on the river take over the city.
- JulyQuebec City Summer Festival big crowds
Eleven days of concerts in July, with the main stages set up on the Plains of Abraham and packed venues around town.
- AugustNew France Festival
On a weekend in August, Old Quebec goes back into period costume: markets, parades and tables set up in the streets of the lower town.
- September to OctoberAutumn colours
The maples of Île d'Orléans and Charlevoix turn red between late September and mid-October, an hour from the city.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Fair-6°-15° at night
- 86 mm · 13 d
- 5 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Recommended-5°-15° at night
- 83 mm · 13 d
- 6.2 h
High season, book early
March
Fair1°-8° at night
- 90 mm · 12 d
- 7.4 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended8°-2° at night
- 100 mm · 13 d
- 8.1 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair18°7° at night
- 104 mm · 12 d
- 10.3 h
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended22°12° at night
- 147 mm · 14 d
- 10.6 h
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended25°16° at night
- 150 mm · 16 d
- 11.4 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended24°15° at night
- 141 mm · 15 d
- 10.4 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended20°11° at night
- 108 mm · 10 d
- 8.8 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended12°5° at night
- 132 mm · 12 d
- 6.3 h
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair4°-3° at night
- 97 mm · 12 d
- 5 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended-3°-10° at night
- 107 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, -15 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (86 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: -5 °C at the warmest of the day, -15 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (83 mm). Expect 6.2 h of sunshine a day. High season: book early.
March. Deep winter: 1 °C at the warmest of the day, -8 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (90 mm). Expect 7.4 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 8 °C at best, -2 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (100 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 12 days of rain in the month (104 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 147 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 25 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Frequent rain: 150 mm over 16 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: 141 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 10 days of rain in the month (108 mm). Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 12 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (132 mm). Expect 6.3 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Deep winter: 4 °C at the warmest of the day, -3 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (97 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: -3 °C at the warmest of the day, -10 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (107 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 Quebec City?
February and June to October: over these months, recorded highs range from -5 to 25 °C, with 13 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Château Frontenac).
Which month should you avoid in Quebec City?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 107 mm over 13 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Château Frontenac).
What is the hottest month in Quebec City?
July, with 25 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Château Frontenac).
What is the coldest month in Quebec City?
January, with -6 °C at best during the day and -15 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Château Frontenac).
What is the driest month in Quebec City?
February: 83 mm over 13 days of rain, against 150 mm in July, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in 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 Quebec City guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Montreal and Quebec City: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)