Best time to visit

CANADA

Drag to explore Vancouver’s harbour

Go in summer, June to August, for the warmest weather and longest days, or in September and October for autumn colour and fewer crowds. November to March is long and cold, but it is ski and northern-lights season.

Weather scores use Toronto as a reference. They are not forecasts or measures of snow, prices or crowds. How to use these ratings

Your year in Canada

AvoidFairGoodGreatIdeal

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Toronto. Higher is better. Some booking links earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Best months

Jun to Sep

The steadiest weather, peaking around Jun.

Shoulder

Apr to May, Oct to Nov

Other months to compare; prices and crowds depend on your destination and dates.

Low season

Dec to Mar

Hard cold.

The year at a glance

Canada is a summer country for most visitors. The month ratings track Toronto, where June to August brings warm, lively days and September stays pleasant before the cold sets in. The far north and the prairies are harsher, the Pacific coast around Vancouver is milder and wetter.

Winter is long and serious across most of the country, from November well into March, which is exactly the draw if you have come for skiing, snow and the aurora. Spring and autumn are the value seasons, with mild weather and lighter crowds.

Jun

Best month

27°C

Warmest, Jul

80mm

Wettest, May

-7°C

Coldest, Jan

Canada month by month

Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Toronto.

JanuaryFreezing with a little rain.Avoid 16

Daytime high: -1°C / 30°F
Overnight low: -7°C / 19°F
Rainfall: 55 mm

Freezing with a little rain.

FebruaryFreezing and dry.Avoid 17

Daytime high: 0°C / 32°F
Overnight low: -7°C / 19°F
Rainfall: 50 mm

Freezing and dry.

MarchCold with a little rain.Avoid 23

Daytime high: 5°C / 41°F
Overnight low: -3°C / 27°F
Rainfall: 55 mm

Cold with a little rain.

AprilCool with a little rain.Great 63

Daytime high: 12°C / 54°F
Overnight low: 3°C / 37°F
Rainfall: 65 mm

Cool with a little rain.

MayMild with a little rain.Ideal 85

Daytime high: 19°C / 66°F
Overnight low: 9°C / 48°F
Rainfall: 80 mm

Mild with a little rain.

JuneWarm with a little rainIdeal 90

Daytime high: 24°C / 75°F
Overnight low: 14°C / 57°F
Rainfall: 70 mm

Warm with a little rain.

JulyWarm with a little rainIdeal 88

Daytime high: 27°C / 81°F
Overnight low: 17°C / 63°F
Rainfall: 75 mm

Warm with a little rain.

AugustWarm with a little rainIdeal 88

Daytime high: 26°C / 79°F
Overnight low: 16°C / 61°F
Rainfall: 75 mm

Warm with a little rain.

SeptemberMild with a little rain.Ideal 88

Daytime high: 22°C / 72°F
Overnight low: 12°C / 54°F
Rainfall: 75 mm

Mild with a little rain.

OctoberCool with a little rain.Great 73

Daytime high: 14°C / 57°F
Overnight low: 6°C / 43°F
Rainfall: 65 mm

Cool with a little rain.

NovemberCold with a little rain.Fair 38

Daytime high: 7°C / 45°F
Overnight low: 1°C / 34°F
Rainfall: 75 mm

Cold with a little rain.

DecemberFreezing with a little rain.Avoid 16

Daytime high: 1°C / 34°F
Overnight low: -4°C / 25°F
Rainfall: 60 mm

Freezing with a little rain.

Where you go changes when you go

Toronto, Montreal and the east

Warm, festival-filled summers and a brilliant autumn in late September and October. Winters are cold and snowy.

The Rockies and the west

July and August for hiking around Banff and Lake Louise, December to March for some of the continent's best skiing at Whistler.

Vancouver and the coast

Mild but wet most of the year. Summer is the dry, glorious exception, which is why it is so popular.

Best time to visit Canada for

Cities and road trips

June to early September, when the weather is warm, the patios are open and the days are long.

Autumn colour

Late September and October, especially in Quebec and Ontario, with crisp air and golden maples.

Skiing and the aurora

December to March for the Rockies and the best chance of northern lights in the north.

Best value

May and September offer mild weather and better prices than the July to August peak.

What is on, and when

Autumn colour, October

Maple country turns red and orange, at its best in Quebec and Ontario.

Ski season, Dec to Mar

Whistler and the Rockies fill with snow and skiers through the long winter.

Top tours in Toronto Day trips in Canada

By city

Which city, which month

The strip above rates Toronto. Pick a month to see how 8 cities compare.

July

City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Vancouver British Columbia	31	41	51	67	86	96	100	100	95	64	41	27
Victoria Vancouver Island	38	45	58	75	88	100	100	100	100	71	47	32
Calgary Alberta	17	17	17	51	80	81	92	95	92	57	17	17
Toronto Ontario	17	17	21	61	87	89	88	87	89	74	40	16
Montréal Québec	14	16	15	58	85	83	83	81	85	67	26	14
Québec City Québec	14	15	14	37	69	74	70	77	70	54	12	12
Halifax Nova Scotia	9	12	11	41	68	80	80	81	76	61	29	9
Whitehorse Yukon	17	17	17	28	69	96	100	92	63	20	17	17

Colours and numbers show weather comfort, not how good a ski or northern-lights trip will be.

Canada, one region at a time

These windows suit general sightseeing. Mountain snow, lake ice and autumn colour vary each year.

Vancouver

June to September

Harbour walks, Stanley Park and the North Shore. Nearby mountain skiing is a separate winter trip.

Victoria

May to September

Gardens, the Inner Harbour and coastal walks. The island is generally milder than inland Canada.

Calgary

June to September

A city stop before the Rockies. July and August suit Lake Louise and high-country exploring; winter suits skiing.

Toronto

June to September

Waterfront days, the CN Tower and a trip to Niagara Falls. Autumn colour is another reason to visit in fall.

Montréal

June to September

Outdoor cafés, festivals and Old Montréal. September and October bring autumn colour to the wider region.

Québec City

June to September

Old Québec and Château Frontenac in warm weather. Winter is a different trip, with snowy streets and carnival season.

Halifax

July to September

The waterfront, fishing villages and Peggy’s Cove. Atlantic weather can change quickly.

Whitehorse

June to August

Long summer days for road trips. Mid-August to early April is northern-lights season when skies are dark and clear.

Make room for somewhere special

Snow-capped Rockies & Lake Louise Toronto’s CN Tower Château Frontenac Peggy’s Cove lighthouse Canada Place, Vancouver

Rockies: July and August are a good starting point for alpine lakes and hiking; winter is for snow sports. Check local trail and avalanche conditions before heading into the mountains.

About the city ratings and seasons

Monthly city figures are rounded Environment and Climate Change Canada station normals for 1981–2010. They describe a historical baseline, not a forecast. Airport readings can differ from downtown and mountain conditions. Precipitation includes the water equivalent of snow. The country overview retains Toronto’s existing series.

Season guidance: Destination Canada, Banff & Lake Louise, Travel Yukon, autumn in Canada.

Watch out

Hard cold

Nov to Mar.

Where to stay in Canada

Compare places to stay around Toronto. Choose your dates on the booking site.

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Good to know

What is the best time to visit Canada?

Summer, June to August, for the warmest, liveliest weather, or September and October for autumn colour and fewer crowds. Insiders often pick the fall for its mild weather and quiet.

When is the cheapest time to visit Canada?

Late autumn and the non-holiday parts of winter, plus the spring shoulder, when crowds thin and prices drop.

Is Canada worth visiting in winter?

Yes, if you have come for it. Winters are cold but bring superb skiing in the Rockies, snowy city festivals, and a strong chance of the northern lights up north.

Where else, and when

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