Weather Vancouver
The British Columbia's capital city of Vancouver is bounded by the Burrard Inlet on the north, the Fraser River on the south, the Straight of Georgia to the west, and mountains to the east. These various geographic factors mean that Vancouver has a number of different microclimates that can make accurate weather predictions somewhat difficult.
Vancouver has a temperate maritime climate. It sees four distinct seasons and no temperature extremes. Vancouver is often considered to have one of the highest qualities of life of anywhere in the world, despite the constant cloud cover and rain during the winters.
The best time to visit Vancouver is during the pleasant summers. Summer is short and typically lasts from June to September. Vancouver is also a great vacation destination for winter holidays. The time between late December to early January is often more expensive than other winter periods.
The conditions in Vancouver are dissimilar to the conditions anywhere else in Canada. Vancouver's weather is unusually temperate for its geographic location, particular by Canadian standards. The city sees the 4th warmest winters of any city in Canada, with the first three cities on nearby Vancouver Island.
Summer Weather in Vancouver
The summers in Vancouver are pleasant, with moderate temperatures which are tempered by sea breezes and clear, sunny skies. The average high temperature in peak summer months of July and August is near 22°C, though the mercury can top 27°C and has actually exceeded 30°C on a few occasions. June and September are also very warm with average high temperatures hovering just below 20°C. Throughout the season night times cool off considerably and you may need an extra layer or so.
Sunshine levels peak in July at 13 hours per day with long days and clear skies. Early summer is generally very bright but by September the cloudy skies start to settle in, giving Vancouver only about eight hours of sunshine per day.
The sea stays cool, peaking at 14°C in July and August. Shallow areas near beaches usually heat up during periods of sunshine to make wading in the ocean a nice way to cool off. Cooling breezes off of the bay often sweep into Vancouver.
The summer months are relatively dry; June sees moderate levels of rainfall and the annual low is seen in June. It then starts to creep up to 70mm in September before drastically rising in winter months.
Autumn Weather in Vancouver
The autumn weather in Vancouver starts from the end of September and goes on till mid November. Autumn is characterized by mild temperatures and wet weather. The average high temperature quickly falls to the low teens and gets down to 9°C in November.
Nighttime temperatures are very chilly and in November it can fall below freezing. Sunshine levels are not abysmal for autumn but it does rain a lot. On average, rain falls for 18 days in October and 21 days in November.
Extreme Weather
On rare occasions remnants of typhoons have hit Vancouver in October. These strong gales rip trees out by the roots and cause millions of dollars worth of damage, compounded by heavy precipitation. Typhoon Freda completely flattened six acres of Stanley Park's forest in 1962.
Vancouver experienced some extreme weather in the fall to winter of 2006 as well. Record rain fell on Vancouver, with over 250mm falling in the first two weeks of the month. Everyone in the city was warned of contaminated tap water as mudslides and sediment tainted the city's reservoirs.
Winter Weather in Vancouver
The winter weather in Vancouver is cold and wet. From December until February the average high hovers around 6°C and the average low sits around freezing. January is the coldest month but December and February are only slightly warmer. Twice a year the thermometer will see temperatures below -10°C. This is pretty good for Canada; the city's proximity to water means major temperature extremes are often avoided.
Snow, on average, falls on eleven days - very low for Canada, which is known for its long, white winters. At higher elevations snow settles every year while only trace amounts are recorded at sea level. However, due to its coastal location a cold snap can bring incredibly high snowfall in a short period as moist air from the warmer sea is blown over the cold city.
Rain is more likely than snow during the winter in Vancouver. Between December and March an average of over 560mm of rain fall on the city.
Grouse Mountain is located a very short drive from the city centre and is accessible by a lift that departs from town; this is the closest ski resort to the city. While Vancouver is close to the world famous and extremely popular Blackcomb ski resort in Whistler, Grouse Mountain enables you to hit the slopes after work and during a short weekend. If you end up at Grouse Mountain in the afternoon you'll find school kids who have jumped straight off the school bus from their inner city schools and headed straight to the slopes.
Spring Weather in Vancouver
The weather in spring is similar to autumn with mild daytime temperatures, cool nights, and plenty of rain. Periods of sunshine increase rapidly but you won't find yourself in a t-shirt just yet. Rainfall does decrease but it still falls frequently. Spring is a beautiful time to explore the blooms in Vancouver's many gardens.
Extreme Weather
Early winter sees some extreme weather patterns that continue from late autumn. A lot of extreme weather came through Vancouver in 2006. After the late autumn rains, Vancouver also saw some record low temperatures in late November of -12°C. Over 38cm of snow fell over the last few days of November, closing down much of the city. To top it all off, winds of 78 mph swept through Vancouver on December 15th, knocking down over 5,000 trees in Stanley Park.