Weather in Canada

Canada is a country of extremes. Some cities can see lows of -30° in the winter and yet highs of +30° in the summertime.

Technically spring is March, April and May, summer is June to August, autumn/fall is September to November and winter is December to February. However, practically speaking it doesn't always work out that way. And more and more, the norms are not really the norms. As in much of the world, Canada is seeing its weather go topsy-turvy. In the summer of 2002, parts of the prairies suffered extreme drought, while other parts were flooded. Parts of Alberta had snowfall right into June and southwestern Ontario had its hottest summer on record. Whether you blame it on global warming or not, the weather isn't always predictable.

When you hear of excessively cold temperatures in Canadian cities, it's usually due to something called the wind-chill factor. The wind-chill makes the actual temperature feel much colder. You'll hear the weather people saying that it's -10° but feels like -25° with the wind-chill. At times like those, you'll also hear warnings about how long skin can go unprotected before frostbite kicks in. This is something to take very seriously. They don't make featherdown jackets and Gortex for nothing.

On the hottest days the weather forecasters will tell you that `with the humidex it's 30.' This reading takes into account the humidity level, which in cities like Toronto and Montreal can make a big difference. That's when you're grateful for air conditioning.

In both summer and winter on very sunny days, forecasters will warn you of the UV index. High levels from seven upwards means skin will sunburn quickly.

In short: The West Coast can be mild but gets a lot of rain. The prairies are dry in thee summer but cold and snowy in the winter. Central Canada sees a bit of variety. Toronto's; winters are not nearly as harsh as those of Ottawa, Montreal or Quebec City - you could see temperatures as low as -50° in Quebec City - but both Toronto and Montreal have quite hot and humid summers. The-east usually isn't very hot in the summer, but can be snowy and cold in the winter.