When to go · Canada
Canada, month by month
The best months for Canada: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Month by month
- JanuaryMixedDeep cold east of the Rockies; ski season in Whistler and Banff; northern lights in Yellowknife.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- FebruaryMixedQuébec Winter Carnival and Ottawa's Winterlude; Family Day long weekend in most provinces.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- MarchMixedLate ski season; sugar shacks in Québec open for maple season.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- AprilMixedThaw and mud; Rockies trails still snowy; Vancouver cherry blossoms.Pacific coast: fine · Rockies: cool · Prairies: fineCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- MayGoodVictoria Day weekend opens the season; Rockies lakes still frozen at altitude.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: fine · Prairies: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- JuneGreatLong days, lakes thawing, fewer crowds than July; blackflies in Ontario and Québec woods.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- JulyGreatPeak season: Rockies lodging sold out, Canada Day on 1 July, Calgary Stampede. Wildfire smoke possible — check.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- AugustGreatWarm and busy; wildfire risk highest in BC and Alberta.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- SeptemberGreatAfter Labour Day crowds drop; larches turn gold in the Rockies late in the month.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- OctoberGoodFoliage in Ontario, Québec and the Maritimes early in the month; mountain roads get snow.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: fine · Prairies: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- NovemberMixedGrey shoulder season; many seasonal businesses in parks close.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- DecemberMixedChristmas markets and ski openings; winter tyres required on many BC highways.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific coastVancouver, Victoria, Tofino, Whistler (ski) | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Wet | Wet | Wet |
| RockiesBanff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Yoho | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool |
| PrairiesCalgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool |
| Ontario and Great LakesToronto, Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Algonquin | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | OK | Cool |
| QuébecMontréal, Québec City, Laurentians, Charlevoix | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Cool | Cool |
| Atlantic CanadaHalifax, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, Newfoundland | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool |
| The NorthWhitehorse, Yellowknife, Dawson City, Iqaluit | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool | Cool |