Obviously Canada's climate is varied and changeable, but
it's a safe generalization to say that the areas near the coast or
the Great Lakes have milder winters and cooler summers than the
interior. July and August are reliably warm throughout the
country, even in the far north, making these the hottest but also
the busiest months to visit. November to March , by
contrast, is an ordeal of sub-zero temperatures almost everywhere
except on the west coast, though winter days in many areas are
clear and dry, and all large Canadian towns are geared to the
challenge of cold conditions, with covered walkways and indoor
malls protecting their inhabitants from the worst of the
weather.
More specifically, the Maritimes and eastern Canada have
four distinct seasons: chill, snowy winters; short, mild springs;
warm summers (which are shorter and colder in northern and inland
regions); and long crisp autumns. Summer is the key season in the
resorts, though late September and October, particularly in New
Brunswick, are also popular for the autumn colours. Coasts
year-round can be blanketed in mist or fog.
In Ontario and Québec the seasons are also marked and the
extremes intense, with cold, damp and grey winters in southern
Ontario (drier and colder in Québec) and a long temperate spring
from about April to June. Summers can be hot, but often
uncomfortably humid, with the cities often empty of locals but full
of visitors. The long autumn can be the best time to visit, with
equable temperatures and few crowds.
The central provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
Alberta experience the country's wildest climatic extremes,
suffering the longest, harshest winters, but also some of the
finest, clearest summers, punctuated by fierce thunderstorms.
Winter skiing brings a lot of people to the Rockies , but
summer is still the busiest time, especially in the mountains,
where July and August offer the best walking weather and the least
chance of rain, though this often falls in heavy downpours, the
mirror of winter's raging blizzards.
The southwestern parts of British Columbia enjoy some of
Canada's best weather: the extremes are less marked and the overall
temperatures generally milder than elsewhere. Much of the province,
though, bears the brunt of Pacific depressions, so this is one of
the country's damper regions - visiting between late spring and
early autumn offers the best chance of missing the rain.
Across the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and
Nunavut winters are bitterly cold, with temperatures rarely
above freezing for months on end, though precipitation year-round
is among the country's lowest. Summers, by contrast, are short but
surprisingly warm, and spring - though late - can produce
outstanding displays of wild flowers across the tundra.