The Climate of British Columbia

The Climate of B.C. by Region

The Pacific Ocean and mountain ranges have a strong effect on British Columbia’s climate. B.C.’s climate is different, according to where you live in the province.

Vancouver Island and the coastal regions of B.C. (including Vancouver) have a mild and pleasant climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

The Thompson-Okanagan and the Cariboo region have the driest climates, with pleasant winters and hot summers.

The Kootenay region is in the southeast corner of the province. It includes the Kootenay Rockies. Temperatures range from mild to cold in winter, and warm to hot in summer.

The Nechako and Northeast regions of British Columbia are the northernmost parts of the province. Here, the summers are warm and the winters are cold with lots of snow.

The North Coast region, on the west coast of B.C., includes the city of Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlotte Islands. It has high rainfall levels for spring, summer and fall, and cold winters.

Related Resources:

• • For current weather conditions and forecasts, have a look at Environment Canada .

  • To learn more about the climate and weather in B.C., visit the HelloBC website.

The Seasons

There are four distinct seasons in B.C.:

• • Spring: March to May

  • Summer: June to August

  • Fall (also called Autumn): September to November

  • Winter: December to February

Parts of British Columbia are very cold in winter, while some areas—like Vancouver Island and Metropolitan Vancouver—have the mildest winters in all of Canada. Temperatures along the coast rarely drop below freezing.

Spring and fall can be warm and pleasant, especially in June and September.

Summer is beautiful throughout the province, although it is hotter in the interior than it is along the coast.