Best Time to Visit Vancouver: Weather and Events by Month

The best time to visit Vancouver depends on what you want to do. July and August are warm, dry and busy; May, June and September offer mild weather with fewer crowds; and November to March is wet in the city but quiet, good value and snowy on the mountains. This guide compares every month and links to a detailed guide for each one, with weather, events, things to do and travel tips.

Vancouver weather by month

Month	Avg high / low	Days with rain	Sunshine (hours)	What it is like
January	7°C / 1°C	20	60	The coldest and darkest stretch of the year, but mild by Canadian standards
February	8°C / 2°C	16	91	Still winter, with the first signs of spring by the end of the month
March	10°C / 3°C	18	135	Early spring: changeable, with blossoms and fresh snow on the peaks
April	13°C / 6°C	15	185	Peak blossom season, mild and increasingly bright
May	17°C / 9°C	13	223	Late spring: green, bright and pleasantly mild
June	20°C / 12°C	12	227	The start of summer, with the longest days of the year
July	22°C / 14°C	6	290	Peak summer: warm, sunny and the driest month of the year
August	22°C / 14°C	6	277	Warm, dry high summer, with the PNE and late-summer evenings
September	19°C / 11°C	9	213	Warm early autumn, often the best-kept secret of the year
October	14°C / 7°C	15	121	Colourful autumn, with the rainy season starting
November	9°C / 4°C	20	60	The wettest month, with the holiday season starting
December	7°C / 1°C	21	57	Festive, dark and wet in the city, snowy in the mountains

Averages for Vancouver International Airport, 1991 to 2020, from Environment and Climate Change Canada (sunshine 1981 to 2010).

Best time to visit Vancouver for…

Sunshine and beaches: July and August, the driest and sunniest months. See our beaches guide.
Good weather with fewer crowds: May, June and September.
Cherry blossoms: late March and April.
Skiing close to the city: December to March at Grouse, Cypress and Seymour, and longer at Whistler.
Festivals: June to August for outdoor festivals and fireworks; September and October for film, theatre and writing festivals.
Holiday lights and Christmas markets: late November and December.
Lowest prices: January, February and November.

Vancouver by season

Winter (December to February)

Mild, wet and grey in the city, with highs around 7°C, and snowy on the North Shore mountains. Ski season, Lunar New Year, Dine Out Vancouver and holiday lights. Read the guides for December, January and February.

Spring (March to May)

Blossoms, longer days and steadily drier weather, with highs rising from about 10°C to 17°C. Read the guides for March, April and May.

Summer (June to August)

Warm and dry, with highs around 20°C to 22°C and up to 16 hours of daylight. Beach days, hiking and the city’s biggest festivals. Read the guides for June, July and August.

Autumn (September to November)

Warm and quiet in September, colourful in October and rainy in November, when holiday season begins. Read the guides for September, October and November.