Study Education in Canada Know Canada

Canada's Climate

Weather is a big part of the Canadian life. The climate variety and changes in Canada have taught the Canadians to consider the weather in all their daily activities. Even though the climate in Canada can be pleasant and agreeable, it can change suddenly. Therefore, you need to be always prepared for sudden climate changes. Climate changes in Canada can be so unpredictable; warm winters may be followed by chilly summers. This is because of the vastness of the country that covers many different climate zones and types interacting with each other and extending over half of North America.

In fact, Canada's climate is a combination of frozen Siberia, tropical humidity, and pleasant Mediterranean climates; while it can be warm and rainy in one part of the country, at the same time, there are other parts of the country that have snow, hail, or blizzard.

West Coast

West of the Rockies has the most moderate climate in Canada. It almost never freezes in Vancouver or Victoria even though northern parts of the province of British Columbia get quite a lot of snow. Heavy year-round rainfalls and mild temperatures have created rainforests in the Pacific region of Canada.

Prairies

The three central provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are called the Prairies and share similar climate conditions. These provinces are generally cold and dry in the northern parts but more sunny in the southern parts. Abundant sunshine contributes to the agricultural prosperity of these regions making farming the most important industry in the Prairies.

East Coast

The Atlantic coast of Canada has a wet cold climate. Eastern provinces get a lot of snow in winter. However, in the Maritimes, the Atlantic Ocean moderates the climate so that winters are long and relatively mild while summers are short and cool. Further from the East coast, towards the province of Quebec winters become colder and summers warmer compared to East Coast provinces. Southern Ontario, though, is having a milder climate because of the Great Lakes.

In recent years, Canadian cities, in general, have been experiencing milder and warmer winters due to global warming as well as local urban expansions. More houses, factories, and cars have had an impact on the climate of these urban areas.

The North

The North region of Canada has low precipitation and extremely cold temperatures. This has resulted in limited vegetation and scarce population in Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories.