Considered the largest metropolitan area in Canada, Vancouver is one of the most famous cities in the country.
It enjoys a privileged location, with coast and mountains, which are key aspects to understand its type of climate.
What is the weather like in Vancouver?
The climate in Vancouver is temperate, but the weather varies according to the seasons of the year. It is necessary to differentiate one term from another and to know that, when we refer to the climate, we refer to the stable characteristics of the country throughout the year.
The state of the weather, often interpreted also as climate, is related to changes in elevation, seasons, atmospheric conditions, among others.
If you are planning to travel to Vancouver and you don’t know what to pack, take advantage of reading this climatological summary that we have prepared for you.
A hot city compared to the rest of Canada
The least you can imagine, when thinking of Canada, is heat. However, Vancouver is one of the hottest cities in the country, with an average temperature of 10 degrees Celsius throughout the year.
One reason Vancouver is so hot is its position on Earth, being favored with an average of 2,000 hours of sunlight a year, with 250 of these hours during the summer.
Its proximity to the sea also makes it a humid city, with high thermal sensations and which, in general, makes tourists feel uncomfortable. Nothing you can’t solve with a visit to the beach!
However, the Canadian “Hawaii” (as it is known for its climate) is not exempt from the ravages and changes of the seasons throughout the country.
While it doesn’t take as much of an impact (and you probably don’t need to be as warm), you should know that depending on your travel date, you’ll need to vary your wardrobe.
Autumn and winter
The last months of the year are the coldest that are experienced in the city. Despite this, it is not a thick winter of snow as is customary in other parts of the country.
It is a fairly wet season, characterized by rain. These precipitations take place from early October to March, with November being the most likely month (with more than 18 days of rain), as well as one of the best months for tourism in the city.
The average temperatures of these autumn months are 11 to 14 degrees Celsius. With a light jacket, you will have everything under control.
In winter, temperatures reach 4 degrees Celsius or even below zero, although it is not so common for them to reach this extreme temperature.
It is a season of pure rainy days, where the climate can be compared to that of cities like London.
With regard to snow, this phenomenon occurs much less in Vancouver compared to other cities in Canada that you can visit. There are about 9 snowfalls that do not exceed 2 centimeters and with snow that melts quickly.
When it comes to the city of Whistler, in the north of British Columbia, the snowfalls are intense until May, making it a destination mostly for snow sports such as skiing. If this city stands out on your itinerary, be prepared for very low temperatures!
Spring and summer
This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful times to enjoy Vancouver.
In the city, spring begins in February and generally has temperatures of just over 0 degrees Celsius, making it a cool time, similar to winter.
It is quite a rainy season, so having an umbrella at hand will be essential to enjoy your walks, especially for the celebration of the cherry blossoms, an indisputable local attraction. oh! And don’t forget the raincoat!
Now, when it comes to summer, the rains stop, appearing from 4 to 6 per month. The wind chill persists, although the humidity decreases, and temperatures are around 18 degrees Celsius on average.
However, you cannot rely on the radiant midday sun, since in the afternoons the temperature tends to drop a bit and it becomes a city with strong winds, so a jacket will be necessary to keep you comfortable.
Vancouver is a warm city, where it will be necessary to be warm and, above all, do not forget your umbrella, but where you can easily manage not to miss its tourist attractions.
If you’re about to pack and you’ve enjoyed these Vancouver weather facts, please share them with us in the comments!
See also:
- Click here for the 30 things you must do in Vancouver, Canada
- These are the 15 tourist places in Vancouver to visit
- Learn about the 10 things to do in Vancouver when it rains
