Vancouver Island is often referred to as the Hawaii of Canada. After all it is an Island in the Pacific Ocean! But what is the weather really like?
The weather on Vancouver Island can vary depending on the season and location on the island. Generally, the island has a moderate, oceanic climate with mild rainy winters and warm to hot Summer temperatures.
Here is a breakdown of the typical weather on Vancouver Island by season:
– Winter (December to February): Temperatures range from 0 to 8°C (32 to 46°F), This is the rainy season of Vancouver Island and on rare occasions it can sometimes snow. Not the best time to travel to Vancouver Island unless you like indoor activities or ocean wave storm watching in Tofino! Which is actually a seasonal activity for tourists. It’s quite awesome to watch.
– Spring (March to May): Temperatures generally range from 8 to 15°C (46 to 59°F), the weather starts to mix it up now and often switches from beautiful sunny days to multiple grey rainy days in a row. It’s April right now as I write this blog post and it is +20°C and full sun, so you never know this time of year!
– Summer (June to August): Temperatures range from 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), with occasional heat waves and absence of rain for weeks and weeks. It’s prime Summer vacation and tourist time. Use our interactive Vancouver Island regional map to start dreaming and planning where you are going to stay and what you are going to do!
More of a YouTube video person when dreaming about your vacation? We have you covered right here on our Traveling Islanders YouTube channel.
– Fall (September to November): Temperatures range from 10 to 17°C (50 to 63°F), with occasional rain and fog in November mostly. September is often exceptionally beautiful and the warm weather can go right into the end of October. The nights are colder but the days are still warm with lots of sun.
It’s important to note that the weather on Vancouver Island can be unpredictable during some seasons and vary depending on Island location.
It’s always a good idea to check the forecast before your trip to Vancouver Island and pack for a variety of weather conditions if you are seeing a mix in the weather. You’ll want to check to see if there are forest fires later on in the Summer too because that completely changes the weather system and forecast.
Here is one last helpful tip to know about Vancouver Island weather. During the Winter when it rains… it’s not a down pour… it’s just a constant light rain with thick cloud cover and a damp cold. Locals don’t even use umbrellas or raincoat because it’s such a light rain. And when the rainy season ends and the nice weather takes over, it can be absolutely beautiful, warm and sunny for weeks and weeks and weeks. In-between those times it is a big mix and the forecast changes a lot.
Hope this helps wth your Vancouver Island vacation plans!
Need some advice on how to travel to Vancouver Island with BC Ferries? Check out our easy to understand and quick BC Ferries guide for first time Vancouver Island visitors.
Vancouver Island has 7 outstanding and unique regions to discover. Explore them all with us and decide which one is your favourite! You can even use our Vancouver Island interactive map to decide on the actives you want to do or the places you want to see.
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