Average Daily Maximum Temperature – Minimum – Sunshine – Raindays – Snowdays – Snowdepth – Windspeed
Unusually for a Canadian city, Vancouver has relatively mild winters with little snow. The cold air from the Arctic that sweeps over the rest of Canada in winter is unable to reach Vancouver. The Rocky Mountains block it.
Combine the lack of Arctic air with the mildness of Vancouver’s location on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and it’s not surprising that Vancouver is the warmest of Canada’s major metropolitan cities in winter by far.
Snow depths of greater than 1 cm are seen on about 10 days each year in Vancouver compared with about 65 days in Toronto.
Vancouver has one of the wettest and foggiest climates of Canada’s cities. At times, in winter, it can seem that the rain will never stop.
Compensating for the the wet winters, Vancouver usually enjoys excellent summer weather characterised by very pleasant, warm days with abundant sunshine.
Vancouver also differs from most other Canadian cities in that it has a genuine spring and fall/autumn. In many Canadian cities it often seems that warm, summer weather replaces frigid, winter weather in a matter of a very few weeks or even days.
Vancouver has a western maritime climate, hence its weather can be changeable throughout the year.
Vancouver is less windy than most other Canadian cities.
Vancouver, British Columbia
| Month of year  |
Av. Daily Max. Temp. (°C)  |
Av. Daily Min. Temp. (°C)  |
Av. hours Sun (per day)  |
Av. Days with Rain  |
Av. Days with Snowfall  |
Av. Depth Snow on Ground (cm)  |
Av. Wind Speed (km per hr)  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. | 6 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| Feb. | 8 | 1 | 3.0 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Mar. | 10 | 3 | 4.3 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Apr. | 13 | 5 | 6.1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| May | 16 | 8 | 7.4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Jun. | 19 | 11 | 7.6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Jul. | 22 | 13 | 9.5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Aug. | 22 | 13 | 8.6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Sep. | 19 | 11 | 6.6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Oct. | 14 | 7 | 4.0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Nov. | 9 | 3 | 2.1 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Dec. | 6 | 1 | 1.8 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
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This is a very good, brief summary, especially for those looking to move to Vancouver. I am a life-long Vancouverite, and I’ve also lived in neighbouring municipalities, and on southern Vancouver Island and Victoria. RELATIVE almost all other parts of Canada, it is one of the least severe in terms of overall climate in the winter, and yes, it can seem like the rain never stops, but if you spend a lot of time outdoors, or love observing changeable weather, you will see that there are frequent breaks in the rain, and even sunny breaks. It is pleasant in the winter, but this should not be taken for granted.
It is still Canada. Victoria is milder than Vancouver, and if you like an even milder climate and a smaller village feel, Tofino is your best bet. I will caution though, even in all these regions, arctic air “unable to reach Vancouver” is a common misconception and the media for some reason likes to use it a lot. Arctic air REACHES VANCOUVER EVERY YEAR, it’s just infrequent. I would not even use as strong as a descriptor as “rare”. It happens at least once every winter, and every few years, they can be extended periods lasting more than a week, and recur 2 to 4 times throughout a given winter. When this happens, Vancouver’s wet climate produces very significant, and often very heavy wet snow. Vancouver has on occasion every few years, surpass Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto in terms of single-day or short-term winter snowfalls because of the relative mild, but cold enough temperatures.
Finally, the graph may of temperatures is very close to accurate if you live in downtown Vancouver, but you do not travel outside of it. All you have to do is cross a bridge and average winter temperatures drop significantly, and summer temperatures are warmer as well. The best guide is Environment Canada’s website for the most reliable, public source for records, AND immediate short-term forecasts for your everyday needs. The info for Vancouver, is based out of the YVR airport weather station, which gives a more balanced idea of what Vancouver is like if you care/or are concerned about climate and weather conditions in the Vancouver region.
That’s a very good add on!!!
I am, in fact, thinking about going to live to Vancouver, more specifically, White Rock.
Would you have anything to add?
Any answer is, by far, very appreciated.