In another thread, Vancouver was taking a beating for its weather. The statement was that Canadians are pretty realistic about their weather, but people in Vancouver are in denial because they don't seem to recognize that it ALWAYS rains there. This got me thinking about how much more it ACTUALLY rains in Vancouver (aka, the "Wet Coast") than it does in, say, Eastern Canada - since Vancouver has had, in my experience, very dry summers. And just as I thought, even if you take into account Vancouver's extremely wet winter, Toronto still has almost as many wet days annually! Montreal and Ottawa are pretty much on par with Vancouver, and Quebec City and the Atlantic provincines actually had more days of rain. Check out these statistics from stats Canada...

http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys08a.htm

Maybe most Canadians aren't being so realistic about Vancouver's (and their own) weather, afterall? :)

This got me thinking as to why this false perception exists in the first place. Is it because people are envious of Vancouver's lack of snow and ice, so they have to criticize it for its rainy winters? Or is it because Vancouverites invented this perception of perpetual rainfall in order to keep other people from moving there? I guess we all need something to complain about, so it may as well be the weather!

Questions, comments, cries of outrage, all welcome. Feel free to post any other misconceptions of weather in other parts of the country you may have thought about....

I like Toronto's weather because you have 4 distinct seasons, rain in the winter wouldn't fly for me. I'm allergic to rain, makes me depressed...

I prefer snow in the winter as opposed to just rain. There's just something about constant cold and rain that makes me depressed. Rain in the summer is nice, but I usually don't notice it (unless it was like that all day storm a few months ago). And having four distinct seasons is also nice, sure.

because it's depressing. i'm from the rainiest city in canada (prince rupert, bc) and it's hellish. i hated the weather because it rained all the time.

Maybe most Canadians aren't being so realistic about Vancouver's (and their own) weather, afterall? :)

This got me thinking as to why this false perception exists in the first place. Is it because people are envious of Vancouver's lack of snow and ice, so they have to criticize it for its rainy winters? Or is it because Vancouverites invented this perception of perpetual rainfall in order to keep other people from moving there? I guess we all need something to complain about, so it may as well be the weather!

Questions, comments, cries of outrage, all welcome. Feel free to post any other misconceptions of weather in other parts of the country you may have thought about....

There is no false perception at all. Vancouver has the highest amount of rainfall outside of the Maritimes. It also has one of the highest amount of wet days other than Maritimes.

So maybe the perception that Vancouver has too much rain is'nt that far off. Instead, there probably is'nt that much knowledge about just how much precipitation hits the far east of Canada (Quebec City and eastward).

So, Vancouver has the highest amount of precipitation and wet days WEST OF QUEBEC.

I don't see why we bother trying to argue that it isn't so rainy. It's really not that bad. What's the big deal about getting a bit wet once in a while? Can you imagine how much more air pollution we'd see without it and how yellow things would get..? BTW - The amount of rain varies throughout the Vancouver region. I think North Van gets the most, while places like Ladner gets a lot less.

Here are some official stats from http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/

Rainiest Cities - Value
1. Prince Rupert 2468.53
2 Port Alberni 1797.94
3. Chilliwack 1679.98
4. Abbotsford 1507.46
5. Campbell River 1344.07
6. Halifax 1254.33
7. Sydney 1212.86
8. St. John's 1190.96
9. Vancouver 1154.66
10. Saint John 1147.94

Wettest City (rain & snow)
1. Prince Rupert 2593.60
2. Port Alberni 1910.67
3. Chilliwack 1787.80
4. Abbotsford 1573.16
5. St. John's 1513.69
6. Sydney 1504.92
7. Campbell River 1451.51
8. Halifax 1421.35
9. Saint John 1390.31
10. Corner Brook 1270.77
*16. Vancouver 1199.02

Most Wet Days
1. Prince Rupert 239.71
2. Gander 220.64
3. St. John's 215.61
4. Corner Brook 206.20
5. Chicoutimi-Jonquière 199.93
6. Val-d'Or 196.28
7. Sherbrooke 192.19
8. Sydney 190.10
9. Chilliwack 184.57
10. Charlottetown 184.21
* 32. Vancouver 166.06

Most Very Wet Days (25mm or more)
1. Prince Rupert 24.20
2. Port Alberni 22.59
3. Chilliwack 16.20
4. Sydney 14.83
5. Halifax 14.40
6. Saint John 13.90
7. Campbell River 13.40
8. Abbotsford 12.78
9. St. John's 12.32
10. Kentville 10.37
*26. Vancouver 6.57

Prince Rupert - I feel for you.

No point in debating weather. It's all subjective. Some people like living in a temperate rain forest - some don't. That's the beauty of Canada.

There is no false perception at all. Vancouver has the highest amount of rainfall outside of the Maritimes. It also has one of the highest amount of wet days other than Maritimes.

So maybe the perception that Vancouver has too much rain is'nt that far off. Instead, there probably is'nt that much knowledge about just how much precipitation hits the far east of Canada (Quebec City and eastward).

So, Vancouver has the highest amount of precipitation and wet days WEST OF QUEBEC.
Ottawa is on par, and Toronto is not far behind in annual wet number of days...and that is even with the extremely wet Vancouver winter taken into account. That tells you something about the scewed perception. My point wasn't that Vancouver didn't have more rain than Toronto and others, but that it isn't nearly as uneven as Canadians like to pretend.

As for people enjoying the snow, in Vancouver you can as well. Just go to the mountains...a short 15 minute drive. Can anyone here honestly say they enjoy shoveling their driveways and sidewalks in February and sometimes even March, when in Vancouver they are basking in spring sunshine with the pink cherryblossoms?

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/6380/vancouvercherryblossom7xl0kf.jpg

I don't see why we bother trying to argue that it isn't so rainy. It's really not that bad. What's the big deal about getting a bit wet once in a while? Can you imagine how much more air pollution we'd see without it and how yellow things would get..? BTW - The amount of rain varies throughout the Vancouver region. I think North Van gets the most, while places like Ladner gets a lot less.
I agree. Without its heavy winter rainfall, Vancouver wouldn't be so green. I actually enjoy the rain. Everything feels so fresh and new...and it's great for the skin. :)

"Can anyone here honestly say they enjoy shoveling their driveways" I don't know why, but yes. For some reason, shovelling at night is, er - nice.

I knew that Vancouver is a rainy city but that dosnt make it any less of a better city. Same goes for any other Canadian city. I hate when people from other countries, not gonna name any (*cough..Australia*), try to make it sound as though they have better cities because we have snow. Like WTF?

When its not cold, the snow beautifies everything it touches. But when it gets below -20 thats when i can't stand it. I'm looking forward to taking some good snow shots this year with my cam.

ya thats what we need^^^ we always show our cities when were in the summer and spring. Always hiding our beautiful snow. We should flaunt our white stuff, not hide it!

I don't know about you guys, but I would much rather have 5 to 10 degree weather (even if it is rain) during winter instead of minus it's too fucking cold to even bother recording the temperature weather.

Yeah, Nazzy, I agree. I just read that thread in the city vs. city with the Vancouver weather bashing thing.

... some dude said it always rains in Vancouver in the summer. It was kinda funny.

Blasphemers. I love it when it's cold outside. Freezing cold and snowy is the way it should be. It's part of being Canadian. Shoveling snow is part of our culture (except for some of you on the west coast). Same goes for bitching about how cold it is at -35 and then picking on Americans who just can't take it. I know I'm looking forward to the first real day of snow here (we've had a few days of light snow so far but nothing that made it to the ground and lasted for more than a few seconds).

Vancouver usually has dry summers, which lowers the annual rainfall statistics and makes up for the winter rain. Another thing is a notable lack of wind which makes it generally more pleasant year round.

Windiest city year-round
Selected Cities
City Rank Value
St. John's 1 23.33
Regina 5 18.63
Hamilton 11 16.98
Winnipeg 12 16.94
Saskatoon 21 15.68
Halifax 27 15.12
Calgary 29 14.80
Toronto 32 14.66
Montréal 35 14.29
Fredericton 60 12.38
Edmonton 61 12.12
Vancouver 64 11.76
Victoria 80 8.86
Kelowna 82 5.38
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/element.cfm

Prince Rupert - I feel for you.




ugh...16yrs of living there...not very fun...i REALLY DONT MISS THE RAIN!!!

Out of Canada’s largest 100 cities, Vancouver ranks:

Wettest city (rain & snow) 16

Most wet days 32

http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/city.cfm

The important point to understand is that Vancouver (along with Victoria) has very dry summers – far drier than Toronto.

During the winter Vancouver gets far more total precipitation than Toronto, but far less over the summer. Total precipitation (mm) for Toronto and Vancouver respectively are: 66 & 62 (May), 69 & 46 (June), 77 & 36 (July), 84 & 38 (Aug), 74 & 64 (Sept),


http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/stats/pages/C02017.htm?CAON0696

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/stats/pages/C02096.htm?CABC0079

So for July and August, Vancouver gets less than 1/2 the rain that Toronto gets.

It's also important to understand that the amount of ppt., varies tremendously depending where you are in the metro Vancouver area. Tsawwassen and Delta get much less ppt. than North Vancouver or even Surrey.

There is no false perception at all. Vancouver has the highest amount of rainfall outside of the Maritimes. It also has one of the highest amount of wet days other than Maritimes.

So maybe the perception that Vancouver has too much rain is'nt that far off. Instead, there probably is'nt that much knowledge about just how much precipitation hits the far east of Canada (Quebec City and eastward).

So, Vancouver has the highest amount of precipitation and wet days WEST OF QUEBEC.

You are making an oversimplification. You clearly fail to understand that Vancouver's precipitation is very seasonal. Vancouver gets less than half the rain that Toronto gets in July and August!!!!

Now stick that in your pipe and smoke it. :cucumber: :cheer:

The summer before last it was so dry in Victoria (and to a lesser extent Vancouver) I thought the leaves would fall off the trees because they were wilted. Vancouver lost a lot of trees that summer due to drought.

Vancouver isn't that bad.
It rained twice only last week.
The first time it rained for three days;
and the second time it rained for four days.

This week the weatherman forcasted that it'll rain once
for seven days.

^^LOL. Sure, now is the time of year when it does rain.

I can understand how a little rain in the summer is refreshing, but you don't find the cold and rain in the winter depressing?

^^No, because we get very little rain and cold here in Mexico during the winter. ;)

As far as winter weather in Canada is concerned, Calgary has the best weather due to the lack of snow cover on the ground and all the sunshine. I used to love lots of snow, but not any more.

This brings up another common weather misconception among Canadians, and that regards how generally good Calgary's weather is during the winter. While it's true that Calgary gets 3-4 weeks of very cold (too cold) weather over the winter, they also get 3-4 weeks of very mild weather during winter. Calgary gets snow, but it generally doesn't stay around for more than a week or two due to the warmer weather that comes with "Chinooks". So most of the time during the winter, you only see snow on the ground (in Calgary) in the shadow of spruce trees. Calgary is far sunnier than anywhere in BC or Ontario over the winter.

I love snow every so often, but if it stays for more then a few days the snow looks like sh*t. The air gets a weird smell like a skating rink and its to cold. And when it does rain im acctualy happy.

I the rest of Canada looks all dead and brown in the winter, but Vancouver is always lush and green like highlands of the UK. 7c and Rain beats -7 and ice IMO, the only place snow can really be enjoyed is Vancouvers local mountains and Whistler.

I can understand how a little rain in the summer is refreshing, but you don't find the cold and rain in the winter depressing?

Not at all because the lawns and bushes are bright green, and the sidewalks and roads are completely clear and free of white salt.

What depressed me was living in Ontario during the winter where everything was brown. That sludge along the side of the road - a mix of snow, ice, and black exahust/dirt - is really attractive I must say. I just loved having my shoes covered in white salt and slush by the time I got home. Needless to say im happy to be back home where I don't have to worry about that. All I need is an umbrella.

Where be this brown? Long distance ring, local ring? wtf is that...

As for people enjoying the snow, in Vancouver you can as well. Just go to the mountains...a short 15 minute drive. Can anyone here honestly say they enjoy shoveling their driveways and sidewalks in February and sometimes even March, when in Vancouver they are basking in spring sunshine with the pink cherryblossoms?


You can go out to the mountains, but what if you don't ski? Do I need to drive 15 minutes to make a snowman or have a snowball fight?

IMO winter=snow. I love walking through the city at night during a snowfall. The snow has a deadening effect with ambient noise, so everything is so quiet and peacefull. Some of my fondest moments in Toronto is tromping through the snow in the dead of night, and looking up at the streetlights above to see the big flakes floating down.

Cherry Blossoms in March sounds awesome, but not if I have to drive somewhere to build a snow fort...

And yes, I can honestly say I enjoy shovelling snow throughout the winter. It has a survival quality about it.. throw on your thermal underwear, your big boots, and get hot choclate ready for when you come back in. I enjoy building massive snow banks on either side of my driveway, and helping out my older neighbours. And nothing brings strangers together like pushing a car out of deep snow. It brings the best out of people sometimes.

You are making an oversimplification. You clearly fail to understand that Vancouver's precipitation is very seasonal. Vancouver gets less than half the rain that Toronto gets in July and August!!!!

Now stick that in your pipe and smoke it. :cucumber: :cheer:

I agree I'm oversimplifying it. I was merely using the stats that Nazzy provided.
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys08a.htm
Based on these stats, and only these stats, all my comments were in line.
I was pointing out how he failed to dissuade my from the common stereotypes of Vancouver because those stats really only enforced them.

As for who gets more rain, and in what month...quite frankly I don't give a rats ass. I'm more interested in the Surrey skyscraper or the VanCity olympic bid then when God decides to take a piss on the city.

Where be this brown? Long distance ring, local ring? wtf is that...

I guess when you live there it isn't as noticable because your so used to it.

Notice the brown sludge...and this is during fresh snowfall. After about a week or two of no new snow, yet freezing temps, it all turns to a sheet of ice and the brown starts to spread to most of the snowbanks lining the sidewalks. (Spray from cars driving through slush)
http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~ntp/pics/TorontoWinter02/022021.jpg
http://www.greatestcities.com/8107pic/858/CP8858.jpg/patience_art.jpg

I'm sorry i'd much rather be here in green Vancouver than walking through that.


Vancouver - Same time of year

http://www.illc.com/dir/cap/3120_va00054_rgb_72.jpg

Plants & Vegetation in January:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b290/vancitypics/janvier2003.jpg

Ughhh... Green winters = disgusting! :puke:

Having a warm winter without snow is so wrong...

When I drove back to Vancouver (from Mexico) in early April, it was pretty neat to see grass over a foot tall in the farmers' fields.

Here's a perspective from someone now living in Calgary, having worked in Vancouver since last Sept (here still), in Winnipeg before that for a 1.5 years, and TO before that:

Vancouver DOES rain a lot during winter - Nov thru March/April (Feb was a nice anomaly). Oct/04 to Jan/05 seemed everyday...I honestly started to wonder if I'd see dry roads in Van (to be fair, I'm only here Monday to Friday). But, once summer finally kicks in (which was May-ish), its been mostly sun - never very warm though, low 20's at best...which is nice. The first day I started working here, I couldn't help but notice these "stands" to drop your umbrella into when walking into a store...that should be your first indication.

And though it never "officially" gets too cold, being so close to the ocean with a constant mist and 5c feels darn cold. Most Fridays during the winter, I was glad to go back to AB where it was usually hovering between -5c and 5c and sun (with the exception of about 3 weeks of stupid cold -25c...but Van was also hitting as low as -9 in Jan as well)...the greenery in Van is nice though.

As far as TO goes - winter almost feels the same as AB, except the humidity makes it feel worse (IMO). Summer is hot, but for 3 months I never saw a true blue sky (kind of a hazy pink-ish hue), and put up with 3 weeks of "smog days" (!)...along with +35 to +40c humidex that feels like a slap in the face.

Of course, no need to point out that for a week in Winnipeg, the temperature was dropping to -50c (with windchill)...so anything seems better.

TO does likely have more rain "days", but where its a light misty rain ALL day in Vancouver, showers will come and go much quicker anywhere east - but unlike Vancouver, it'll happen in the spring/summer months.

Do Vancouverites think too highly of their climate? Well, starting the second week of Sept, right until April, the first thing most Vancouverites will say to me (Cab drivers, Hotel staff, co-workers, etc)..."so, is it cold in Calgary yet? Any snow?" - which usually turns into "we're the tropics of Canada...I love the rain", etc, etc...Of course, I love their look of shock most times when a Chinook would blow through on the weekend and it all of a sudden didn't seem uninhabitable...I do believe Vancouverites are obsessed with this climate thing.

Who has the best weather in Canada? Without a doubt, the southern tip of Van Island - slightly warmer, and less rain than Van. Or - if you are like me and require a dry climate with some snow - Okanagan is simply the best place year-round..nice winters, and fantastic summers.

I've spent a nine day spell in February in Vancouver where it rained EVERY FUCKING DAY. I've spent a five day spell in Vancouver in November where it rained EVERY FUCKING DAY, and the sun set at about 4:30. Nine days of relentless gray, fog, RAIN and goddamn COLD RAIN to boot. It was miserable. You could not walk anywhere, you could not get dry or warm, just sickening weather. You can't dress for rain and you have to carry around an umbrella that is trailing wetness all over you.

I will take a crisp winter day in Calgary with SUN and our BRILLIANT BLUE SKIES over Vancouver in the winter- any winter. I cannot stand Vancouver winters.

Vancouver summers can be lovely but are not better than Calgary's and are nowhere near as fantastic as Kelowna's.

What Vancouver has is the green- but you have to put up with unbearable weather too much of the time to get the green.

So keep convincing yourselves that you like winters, Vancouverites; we're not jealous- the problem is that you are deluded.

I'm more interested in the Surrey skyscraper or the VanCity olympic bid then when God decides to take a piss on the city.

If God ever decides to take a good piss, we're all done for - bad way to go.

I will take a crisp winter day in Calgary with SUN and our BRILLIANT BLUE SKIES over Vancouver in the winter- any winter. I cannot stand Vancouver winters.

Agreed. I lived in Alberta for 15 years so I know what you mean.

Vancouver summers can be lovely but are not better than Calgary's and are nowhere near as fantastic as Kelowna's.

Disagreed. Vancouver's summers (along with Victoria's and Kelowna's) are the best in Canada. To be sure, among the three Kelowna has the warmest summer, but the other two also have glorious summer weather. Did you know that Kelowna is the least windy city in Canada? Calgary is inferior to all three because its summers are so unpredictable. Circa 2001 - during a period of drought - Calgary had awesome summers, but this is not the norm. Calgary often comes up with a very cool summer. Nearly every part of Canada's ecumen has a better summer than Calgary's. It's Calgary's winters that are impressive - not its summers. I've seen it snow every month of the year in Calgary except in July.

I've seen it snow every month of the year in Calgary except in July.

Hehe, well I've seen it snow EVERY month of the year here... :D

I also have to say that I love our unpredictable weather. It makes the day a little more interesting when you don't know what you are going to get. It would be boring if the weather didn't spontaneously change.

And I will agree with others that Kelowna has awesome weather!

So keep convincing yourselves that you like winters, Vancouverites; we're not jealous- the problem is that you are deluded.

I'm not convincing myself anything! I Prefer the winters here over anything else in Canada and I've lived in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Alberta. The rain doesnt get to me, only if it's raining really heavily and windy, but that's not often enough to make me move east.

Hehe, well I've seen it snow EVERY month of the year here... :D

I also have to say that I love our unpredictable weather. It makes the day a little more interesting when you don't know what you are going to get. It would be boring if the weather didn't spontaneously change.

And I will agree with others that Kelowna has awesome weather!

The total opposite in central america, do they even need a weather man?

I live on the east coast of Vancouver island. I have rode my bike 20 kilometers a day to work and back . Of course I live in Nanaimo only once have I had to ride in the snow but I have snow tires for my bike every year! I have done this for five years!

I guess when you live there it isn't as noticable because your so used to it.

Notice the brown sludge...and this is during fresh snowfall. After about a week or two of no new snow, yet freezing temps, it all turns to a sheet of ice and the brown starts to spread to most of the snowbanks lining the sidewalks. (Spray from cars driving through slush)
http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~ntp/pics/TorontoWinter02/022021.jpg
http://www.greatestcities.com/8107pic/858/CP8858.jpg/patience_art.jpg

I'm sorry i'd much rather be here in green Vancouver than walking through that.


Vancouver - Same time of year

http://www.illc.com/dir/cap/3120_va00054_rgb_72.jpg

Plants & Vegetation in January:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b290/vancitypics/janvier2003.jpg


OMG sorry Mods to quote this post BUT DAMN!!, There is vegetation In JANUARY??!!... Are there any crop yields in January for BC?? sorry for my ignorance. And finally sheaaaat i'm moving to BC... :cheers:

I was hoping someone at the U of T might have invented a certain type of crop too grow in snow? Any luck yet?

Perhaps Barley? :cheers:

I was hoping someone at the U of T might have invented a certain type of crop too grow in snow? Any luck yet?


:lol: Good Idea actually, that would sort of make Canada far more productive I guess considering our harvesting season is 3 times as short as some states in the US.

Weather in Vancouver won't kill you. Toronto weather on the other hand, can.

How many people die of heart attacks shovelling snow in the winter? How many people die of heat stroke in the summer? How many die because of smog?

Toronto weather is about extremes. From minus 40 with the windchill in the winter to plus 40 with the humidex in the summer. Emergency cooling centres open up in the summer and emergency heating centres open in the winter. Up and down. Up and down. One day it can +15 the next -20. That's pretty hard on the body.

So while making snowmans sounds like fun, eventually, you grow up and that means dick.

Temperature aside, it's also the lenght of time winter lasts here. It's basically crap from November to May. That makes for a long winter - even if the temps slowly start to creep up to 10c. The worst time of the year in Toronto is probably April. The city waits to start 'spring cleaning' and man, the streets of TO can look pretty bad after a long winter.

:lol: Good Idea actually, that would sort of make Canada far more productive I guess considering our harvesting season is 3 times as short as some states in the US.

The Metro Vancouver area must have the largest concentration of green houses in North America. It used to be Leamington that did, but I was recently to both and Vancouver blows Leamington out of the water when it comes to green houses.

BTW, did you know that they grow cranberries in Vancouver?

The Metro Vancouver area must have the largest concentration of green houses in North America. It used to be Leamington that did, but I was recently to both and Vancouver blows Leamington out of the water when it comes to green houses.

BTW, did you know that they grow cranberries in Vancouver?


Cranberries that's quite something, I was watching a documentary on the CBC and they showed how some entrepeneurs were growing Wasabi in Vancouver :lol:

^^ And Vancouver is huge in blueberry and raspberry (around Abbotsford) production.

Oceanmdx - agreed about Calgary being unpredictable. But, I disagree about Van being one of the best for summers. Actually, Calgary is on average 1 degree warmer through the summers - but that doesn't mean much because Van and Calgary are amongst the lowest in the country (July/Aug in Van is 22c vs Cgy 23c). However, just as Kelowna has one of the highest average temps in the summer (July/Aug 28c), so to does the area south and east of Calgary (July/Aug 27c) - along with a good chunk of Sask and MB. I would rank the prairies higher for summer than Vancouver. Okanagan is easily number 1.

As much as I think TO is a nice city, I think we can agree that the weather is likely the worst in TO itself (not the lake country though). BTW - it really never reaches -40c with windchill in TO. -20c is uncommon.

A great website for those interested in a famous river in Egypt.... :)


http://www.seevancouversnow.com

http://www.seevancouversnow.com/downtown/x490-11.JPG

http://www.seevancouversnow.com/gastown/x488-14.JPG

http://www.seevancouversnow.com/westend/x487-26a.JPG

thats face it , no matter where we live , the majority of us believe we have the best of both worlds. People from VAN say " We like the rain , better then snow " . Unless you have to walk 8 blocks in it.
People from Calgary , " Our blue sky's in winter are great , I dont mind the - 28 , better then rain ". Unless you have to walk 8 blocks in that too .

Im in Kamloops ...
+30-40 in summer
+8 - ( -15 ) in winter , I still have all my flowers blooming and will show great October 31st pics sometimes to prove it , and a huge elephant Ear growing out of a Willow Tree too !

but If it SHIT fell from the sky ,, I dont think I would say ," Hell , shit is better the rain or -28 " .

We all have our flaws and our positive atributes.

^ Better not blink, it looks like that for a whole 2 days out of the year! Last week we got hit bad though, I think we had snow for a week and a half.

Vancouver does get roughly 50 cm of snow every year. Now yes it melts but there is nothing worse than slush that comes with melting snow. And you probably get atleast 1 storm a year that keeps snow on the ground. Vancouver seems to have this elusion of grandeur when it comes to its weather.

BTW, did you know that they grow cranberries in Vancouver?

I'm not suprised, they grow cranberries in Ontario too, particularly in the Muskoka region.

So while making snowmans sounds like fun, eventually, you grow up and that means dick.


I'm really sorry to hear that. It doesn't mean dick to children, BTW.

Oceanmdx - agreed about Calgary being unpredictable. But, I disagree about Van being one of the best for summers. Actually, Calgary is on average 1 degree warmer through the summers...

The problem for Calgary isn't the average, it's the standard deviation of the summer temperature statistics. When the standard deviation is so high, the average becomes meaningless. It can be warm, or it may snow. No one knows a week ahead with Calgary.

By the way, I spent the first 25 years of my life in Waterloo, so I know what Toronto's weather is like, and I prefer its summers over Calgary's, but Calgary's winters over Toronto's.

You spent time in Waterloo so you know what Toronto's weather is like? HOW are the two even related? Don't you remember grade 9...weather in urban centres. LOWER NEAR WATER?

Lake Ontario has some affect over Toronto's weather and the Great Lakes have some affect on Waterloo's weather, but this affect is much less than that of an ocean. Waterloo's weather is very similar to Toronto's - but Toronto does get a little less snow. I would guess that you would have predicted the opposite since Toronto is on the lake.

BTW, Waterloo Region is a pretty sizeable urban area.

Haha, lake Ontario - it only has a real signifigant affect on places right near to the lake. Move north just a little, and the temperature will rise or drop, depending on the season. Very well then, we're in agreement.

^^ That's my point.

Haha, lake Ontario - it only has a real signifigant affect on places right near to the lake. Move north just a little, and the temperature will rise or drop, depending on the season. Very well then, we're in agreement.


Well Toronto for the most part is right near the lake.

I grew up near Waterloo, and my parents still live there. I live in Hamilton now.

Beleive me, there's a huge difference between Waterloo and Hamilton, for example. Lake proximity and elevation are the key factors. For example, in Waterloo the leaves fell weeks ago, but they've just started to fall here. Often when it's snowing in Waterloo, it's just raining in Hamilton. The growing season here is probably almost a month longer.

Just pointing that out. Weather in Southern Ontario alone varies considerably... just talk to anyone from Barrie!! ;)

^^ Now you're talking about a different location - the Hamilton to Niagara microclimate. Being right below the Niagara Escarpment and right between two Great Lake makes more of a difference. They can even grow grapes and tender fruits in that area. What's even more fascinating with the Niagara Region is the difference in snowfall between Niagara Falls and Buffalo which gets about three times the snowfall.

I was only saying that there wasn't much of a difference between Toronto and Waterloo and there isn't except Toronto gets a little less snow.

thats face it , no matter where we live , the majority of us believe we have the best of both worlds. People from VAN say " We like the rain , better then snow " . Unless you have to walk 8 blocks in it.
People from Calgary , " Our blue sky's in winter are great , I dont mind the - 28 , better then rain ". Unless you have to walk 8 blocks in that too .

Im in Kamloops ...
+30-40 in summer
+8 - ( -15 ) in winter , I still have all my flowers blooming and will show great October 31st pics sometimes to prove it , and a huge elephant Ear growing out of a Willow Tree too !

but If it SHIT fell from the sky ,, I dont think I would say ," Hell , shit is better the rain or -28 " .

We all have our flaws and our positive atributes.

Absolutely - sorry, shouldn't have made the comment about TO's weather sucking...I personally don't like humidity, but I have a lot of colleagues that couldn't stand the dryness of AB or BC's interior, and love TO's HOT, humid summers.

As well, as much as I prefer Calgary's summers, it does fluctuate a lot...I remember flying home one weekend in August, and leaving TO at some +45 (with Humidex) and arriving in Calgary at only +6 was shocking.

Vancouver's summers aren't fantastic either - though it doesn't rain much, it never feels like it gets past 20c...not great for going to a beach (which is likely cooler at the ocean). So, despite being consistent, its just not great. As one of my colleagues I'm working with said (travelling from SoCal) on a "nice" summer day, "it feels like a real nice winter day in SoCal".

BTW - as nice as weather is in Kamloops, it does not average 30-40c...it hits that, definitely...It doesn't average that - more like +28c. The same can be said for south-east AB and South-west Sask.

And we still have some flowers showing in our backyard in Calgary...all depends on the type ;-)

Pfttt, Toronto doesn't get a lot of snow? They can have as much snow as ---- want.

Vancouver's summers aren't fantastic either - though it doesn't rain much, it never feels like it gets past 20c...not great for going to a beach (which is likely cooler at the ocean). So, despite being consistent, its just not great. As one of my colleagues I'm working with said (travelling from SoCal) on a "nice" summer day, "it feels like a real nice winter day in SoCal".
I disagree that it never gets past 20C. It's been up above 25C quite a few times the past few summers, which explains all the water shortage warnings and brown grass. Secondly, 25C in Vancouver feels like 30C in, say, Kelowna, which is much more of a dry heat. In my opinion, Kelowna has the best summers out of anywhere in Canada....but as someone who grew up there, I will say it also has one of the most depressing winters. Because its a valley, it gets really bad inversion. Whereas in Vancouver you have various shades of grey, at different levels (due to its dozen or so microclimates), in Kelowna it is all the same, ugly, dark grey, hanging so low you feel you can touch it with your forehead. As someone who's lived in both places, I'd rather have the rain in Vancouver than that Kelowna inversion.

July's daytime highs (2005) are below: Note, there were only 3 days at the end of July where even a hint of humidex was recorded. I find it funny when a Vancouverite tries to tell me that its so humid in Vancouver - they obviously haven't been to southern Ontario. These numbers are recorded at YVR - but from someone who "lives" in DT Vancouver 4-5 days a week, and spends a lot of time at YVR, there is no discernable difference - in fact, DT I find is cooler (at Canada Place).

Some may try to argue that its "much" warmer inland - such as Surrey, Burnaby, New West - but that is a) not Vancouver, b) not where the beaches are, and c) even at Abbotford, it was only 2 degrees on average warmer in July (12 days between 25c and 30c vs Van's 4 days in that range).

01 17.8
02 21.7
03 22.9
04 21.5
05 19.3
06 20.4
07 21.1
08 19.7
09 21.1
10 20.6
11 21.5
12 22.8
13 22.5
14 21.3
15 19.3
16 20.9
17 22.8
18 22.5
19 21.5
20 21.1
21 23.0
22 24.5
23 22.0
24 22.2
25 22.3
26 22.7
27 24.8
28 26.5
29 25.2
30 26.8
31 28.8

Vancouver has a wet season and a dry season. It does not have that many wet days during the entire year on average but it has a lot in the winter.

Here's another ranking- sunniest winter (in hours of sunshine):

Calgary - 1 - 366.21
Winnipeg - 2 - 358.24
Halifax - 10 - 339.27
Toronto - 50 - 273.23
St. John's - 77 - 222.09
Vancouver - 84 - 201.09
Chilliwack - 100 - 72.05


Not surprisingly, Vancouver only has a little more than half as much sunlight as Calgary in the winter, which for the purposes of the statistics no doubt includes February.

Vancouver has a wet season and a dry season. It does not have that many wet days during the entire year on average but it has a lot in the winter.

Here's another ranking- sunniest winter (in hours of sunshine):

Calgary - 1 - 366.21
Winnipeg - 2 - 358.24
Halifax - 10 - 339.27
Toronto - 50 - 273.23
St. John's - 77 - 222.09
Vancouver - 84 - 201.09
Chilliwack - 100 - 72.05


Not surprisingly, Vancouver only has a little more than half as much sunlight as Calgary in the winter, which for the purposes of the statistics no doubt includes February.

Vancouver's wet and dry seasons are the exact opposite to the rest of the country...mostly wet in winter, mostly dry in summer.

According to statscan, Van actually has "on average" 164 wet days during the year - rain of 1167mm, and snow of 55cm...I'd guess that most of those 164 days are from mid-Oct through April.

Calgary has 111 wet days (399mm rain, 135cm snow).

Regina is the lowest at 109 days, with 364mm rain, and 107cm snow (the lowest).

TO has 139 wet days, 819mm rain, and 135cm snow.

Quebec City and Charlottetown are worst for snow fall at 337cm, and 338.7cm (1208mm and 1201mm of rain).

Worst for "wet" days is St John's at 217, and Halifax at 170. To compare internationally, Beijing has 66 wet days, and London has just 107. Paris is on par with Van at 164 - but only 585mm rain, and no snow.

^^ Now you're talking about a different location - the Hamilton to Niagara microclimate.

I grew up about 10km from the edge of the escarpment. Most of my trips out involved going down the escarpment. The weather is often different top to bottem. Snow up top and raining below or visa versa. My former co-worker lives right at the base, but works on top. At times in the early mornings there could be a 10 degree difference in temp. We used to have a peach tree, i would only produce fruit every few years,then only a couple. But less then a 1/2hour away was prime fruit growing land, below the escarpment. I could go one and one with examples...

Having lived in Vancouver my whole life I must admit that I've often wished for more snow days, just because it make everything look beautiful and feels like winter. Don't know if I would want 3 months straight of it tho...

Cranberries that's quite something, I was watching a documentary on the CBC and they showed how some entrepeneurs were growing Wasabi in Vancouver :lol:

It's true, you can actually buy fresh wasabi (it's a greenish root) in some specialty shops in Vancouver. It's rare and quite expensive but there apparently is a small niche market for it.

Having lived in Vancouver my whole life I must admit that I've often wished for more snow days, just because it make everything look beautiful and feels like winter. Don't know if I would want 3 months straight of it tho...



It's true, you can actually buy fresh wasabi (it's a greenish root) in some specialty shops in Vancouver. It's rare and quite expensive but there apparently is a small niche market for it.


Actually the first couple of weeks of winter/snow is enjoyable. You look forward to it and even do some outings along with it. However!!, When your hit with bitter cold for 4 straight months you just wanna move to Texas. I fucking hate late February just feel like giving up. Apart from that, I'd rather have it snowing and be -3 degrees celsius outside than to have it rain and be +3 degrees.

Regardless of what the stats say, Vancouver is a 'wetland'.

Been there 3 times in the past year. Every visit was wet and grey. Far from the tropical paradise of Canada most Vancouverites were proclaiming.

^^ Read my signature.

As though your extremely limited experience defines Vancouver's climate. This year, Vancouver had an unusually wet and crappy spring/early summer. Calgary was incredibly wet, but that was unusual too. Toronto was unusually dry early on this summer.

I have no problem when it rains when the weather is mild. However, I prefer snow when it is colder, as I would rather be cold/dry when the precipitation falls, as oppose to cold/wet. I hate milder winters because it rains too much.

In the summers in Toronto, I don't mind rain to cool things up a bit when its hot and humid. Its not so much the rain, but its the humidity I hate. Though Toronto isn't known for having wet summers, unlike wet winters like Vancouver.

The stats don't lie, Vancouver gets more rainfall than Toronto. 1112 mm vs 684 mm is very significant.

Waterloo vs Toronto in snowfall, big difference. Waterloo is in the snowbelt, Toronto is lucky because it isn't.

TO has 139 wet days, 819mm rain, and 135cm snow.
.

You mean 819 mm including snow.

It's true, you can actually buy fresh wasabi (it's a greenish root) in some specialty shops in Vancouver. It's rare and quite expensive but there apparently is a small niche market for it.


?????

Fresh wasabi, not in a tube?? Do you mash it up, and is it naturally potent?

Lake Ontario has some affect over Toronto's weather and the Great Lakes have some affect on Waterloo's weather, but this affect is much less than that of an ocean. Waterloo's weather is very similar to Toronto's - but Toronto does get a little less snow. I would guess that you would have predicted the opposite since Toronto is on the lake.

BTW, Waterloo Region is a pretty sizeable urban area.

It's because Toronto is on the west side of the Lake. Thunder Bay has a similar effect, more extreme though, because our lake is bigger. for a few years now (except last) we got hardly any snow. Places across the lake (Rochester on lake Ontario, Sault Ste. Marie on superior) get a lot of snow every winter. The effects in Thunder Bay are noticable almost 16Km inland from the bay. There is a similar efect along Minnesotas north shore. Winters are brutally cold, though. Alot of eastern winds blow off the lake in the winter.

You mean 819 mm including snow.

Yes - sorry, it is 819mm total...but so were all the other cities as well (not just rain). Calgary is 399mm total, and Van is 1167mm total.

Also, just to point out - while Van's "sunny" or "non-rainy" season is summer, vs Calgary's "rainy" season being the summer, Calgary still manages more sunshine in July/Aug (314 and 281 hours vs Van's 294 and 267). TO is only slightly behind Vancouver. (TO is 276 and 241). This is despite getting more rain (Cgy is 67mm and 58mm vs TO's 67mm and 79mm vs Van's 39mm and 39mm).

The big difference east of Vancouver is how it rains...which is usually hard, but in short showers. Vancouver seems to always be a steady drizzle - I've only seen it come down hard once (back in January - after the week of snow).

I have no problem when it rains when the weather is mild. However, I prefer snow when it is colder, as I would rather be cold/dry when the precipitation falls, as oppose to cold/wet. I hate milder winters because it rains too much.

In the summers in Toronto, I don't mind rain to cool things up a bit when its hot and humid. Its not so much the rain, but its the humidity I hate. Though Toronto isn't known for having wet summers, unlike wet winters like Vancouver.

The stats don't lie, Vancouver gets more rainfall than Toronto. 1112 mm vs 684 mm is very significant.

Waterloo vs Toronto in snowfall, big difference. Waterloo is in the snowbelt, Toronto is lucky because it isn't.
This just goes to show it is all a matter of subjective taste in the end. I prefer a warm winter with a lot of constant greenery, which comes with rain. But I like the rain, too. It is actually refreshing, and beats the brown slush and preceding freezing temps and ice, IMO.

And I would prefer not to have such humid summers, which is why I love the summers in Vancouver....more sunny and dry than Toronto...and half the rain.

PS. Canada Cowboy, I never stated Vancouver's weather was humid - just MUCH less dry than it is in Kelowna.

Waterloo vs Toronto in snowfall, big difference. Waterloo is in the snowbelt, Toronto is lucky because it isn't.

Wrong! Waterloo most certainly is not in the "snowbelt". If memory serves, Waterloo gets 156 cm of snow/yr and Toronto gets 123 cm of snow/yr. Places which are in the snowbelt - such as Buffalo, Owen Sound, Barrie and Huntsville get about triple what Toronto or Waterloo get. Those 4 places are in a snowbelt - not Waterloo. I previously mentioned that Toronto gets a little less snow than Waterloo - and I was right.

Wrong! Waterloo most certainly is not in the "snowbelt". If memory serves, Waterloo gets 156 cm of snow/yr and Toronto gets 123 cm of snow/yr. Places which are in the snowbelt - such as Buffalo, Owen Sound, Barrie and Huntsville get about triple what Toronto gets. Those 4 places are in a snowbelt - not Waterloo. I previously mentioned that Toronto gets a little less snow that Waterloo - and I was right.
It may not technically be in the 'snow belt', but I'll tell you from the 3 years I spent there during university IT CAN SNOW! When the snow comes, it comes down hard and lots of it.

^^ Sure, any place in Ontario can get big blizzards, but in comparison to many other cities in Ontario, Waterloo ain't bad. Windsor/Leamington and Toronto get the lowest amounts of snowfall in Ontario - both get around 123 cm/year. Waterloo only gets around 25 % more. Try comparing that with Barrie or Owen Sound which get much, much more snowfall (perhaps triple).

In realitive terms - and I thoroughly studied the stats a year ago - Waterloo can be considered to be in a moderately low snowfall area for Ontario. Not that that's much to boast about, but there is no way (for Ontario) that Waterloo can considered to be a snowbelt area.

Although I don't have any stats I bet Hamilton Mountain gets about 15 to 20 cm more snow than what Lower Hamilton gets each year. It's pretty strange at times when I wake up in the morning and see snow covering my car and than when I drive down the mountain it's raining lol.

Apart from that, I'd rather have it snowing and be -3 degrees celsius outside than to have it rain and be +3 degrees.

Oh I definately agree, thats why i'm glad its rarely ever only 3 degrees, its typically between 8-12 degrees with overcast or rain or sun, which is a big difference. It might go down to 3 over night...at least it stays above freezing. Overnight lows in Toronto dip way down in to the negative teens

I've only seen it come down hard once (back in January - after the week of snow).
Ohhhhh, yeah! I remember that! It was a funky January! We got tons of snow and very cold temps that stayed for a while with an arctic outflow, or whatever it's called, then the "pineapple express" came in and gave tons of rain, and made it warmer than average.

---

Anyway ~ ! I don't like snow, and stuff. I'm not a winter person. I'm a wimp. I find Van's winters to be totally freezing... and I can't imagine living somewhere where it gets even colder. Not my thing, hehe. :)

So yeah, I definately prefer rain to snow. Oh, and it does rain a lot here. Maybe not as much as some people may think, but it's very rainy/sprinkly/overcast/whatever around this time of year. On some other forums I visit, I put "The Wet Coast" as my location. S'all in good fun. ;)

Im my few months living in Victoria I have noticed that there is a lot more overcast weather then southern Ontario. I think this will be the hardest aspect to get used to. I really like the sun!

^ Come march you will appreciate Victoria.

Victoria recieves more sun than Vancouver and is typically 1-2 degrees warmer in the winter.

Someone get a hours of sun map... bcuz I remember Toronto getting really high.

Well, I went for a walk at lunch in central Vancouver today, and despite wearing a ski jacket and fleece, I still felt chilled. I could see my breath...it wasn't raining at that moment, but it was still wet outside and the slightest breeze felt cold.

However, upon returning, I checked the temperature and it was "apparently" 10c...which doesn't surprise me anymore. The odd thing is, this "warm" weather feels more like 5c in Calgary - less if the sun is out. I'm sure its also partly the humidity, but unlike a "humidex" or "wind chill" factor there is no way to explain why Vancouver feels colder than AB at 10c - it just does.

nazzy - yes, the Okanagan is the second driest place in Canada after southern AB.

I thought the tundra would be drier.

I thought the tundra would be drier.

Yes, that is correct - north is the driest.

?????

Fresh wasabi, not in a tube?? Do you mash it up, and is it naturally potent?

I haven't tried it because it's so expensive but apparently it tastes different from what you get in the tube (some ppl tell that what's in the tube is sometimes just horseradish paste). It's supposedly quite hot.

7 day forecast

Toronto

Thurdsay: high 17 degrees - variable cloudiness
Friday: 15 - mainly sunny
Saturday: 12 - scattered showers
Sunday: 11 - cloudy with showers
Monday: 9 - cloudy periods
Tuedsay: 7 - cloudy with sunny breaks
Wednesday: 14 - mainly cloudy


Vancouver

Thursday: high 10 degrees - light rain
Friday: 12 - light rain
Saturday: 11 - light rain
Sunday: 13 - light rain
Monday: 7 - light rain
Tuedsay: 7 - light rain
Wednesday: 5 - cloudy

^^ Uh... cool?

Rainiest city

Rank - City - Value
1. Prince Rupert - 2468.53
16. Québec City - 923.80
29. Stratford - 820.29
33. Windsor - 805.19
42. Guelph - 771.41
43. Kitchener-Waterloo - 765.02
44. Hamilton - 764.80
45. Montréal - 760.04
58. Toronto - 684.62

Hottest summer

Rank - City - Value

3. Windsor - 26.62
6. St. Catharines-Niagara - 25.76
7. Brantford - 25.65
9. Toronto - 25.38
18. London - 25.09
19. Ottawa - 25.06
21. Hamilton - 25.03
29. Kitchener-Waterloo - 24.67
31. Guelph - 24.55

I haven't tried it because it's so expensive but apparently it tastes different from what you get in the tube (some ppl tell that what's in the tube is sometimes just horseradish paste). It's supposedly quite hot.


Yup the paste from the Tube is Horseradish and is NOT real WASABI, Vancouver though some entrepeneurs are growing REAL Wasabi and making a fortune out of it.

Rainiest city
Unfortunately that really doesn't tell you anything.

Does the rain come all on one day in a flash-flood or does it rain a little bit on every day of the year.

New Orleans received 203.2mm of rain all on a single day this year. So that means 3 days of rain would pretty much match Toronto.

Wrong! Waterloo most certainly is not in the "snowbelt". If memory serves, Waterloo gets 156 cm of snow/yr and Toronto gets 123 cm of snow/yr. Places which are in the snowbelt - such as Buffalo, Owen Sound, Barrie and Huntsville get about triple what Toronto or Waterloo get. Those 4 places are in a snowbelt - not Waterloo. I previously mentioned that Toronto gets a little less snow than Waterloo - and I was right.

Really? Do an internet search and you'll see many references to Waterloo being in the snowbelt. Based on your stats, Waterloo gets 26.8% more snow. That is pretty material.

Look at this map. KW falls near/within the 'Major' snowbelt area, the map located in the bottom right.

http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/images/big03.gif

******Vancouver gets less than half the rain Toronto gets in July and August, and Vancouver gets less rain than Toronto in May, June and September - just don't ask me about the rest of the year.******


oceanmdx, your sig is proof positive that numbers lie... or they can be used to perpetuate myths like "lotusland".

Total rainfall? Since Vancouver enjoys endless days of grey, whining light rain that probably adds up to nothing, while Toronto can be dry for months and then pummelled with an explosive thunderstorm (like the one that washed out Finch Avenue)... that drops a ton of rain in hours... it might be more to the point to look at summer versus summer a little differently.

I started gardening in April and seven months later, with a few huge thunderstorms and some cool October days thrown in, I'm still harvesting the Dahlias.

We all have newspapers and we all know how to read a forecast. My favourite "da - Nile" is the classic "oh the rain lands everywhere in the Vancouver area, but never downtown".

Toronto has enjoyed mild/warm/hot weather pretty much non-stop, during that time and Vancouver rarely has more than a week when you would want to jump in the Pacific without a wetsuit. I'm know there are lots of pleasant days out there but nothing beats jumping into a freshwater lake after baking on the cottage dock @ +30c... not as pleasant in the city without a/c of course.

The truth hurts but Vancouverites are famous for skewing the truth so they feel better about themselves. If you want to live in a real lotusland, move to San Diego... but it's still wetsuit time when you jump in the Pacific.

:)

Toronto forecast - sunny 18c
Vancouver forecast - take a guess

Really? Do an internet search and you'll see many references to Waterloo being in the snowbelt. Based on your stats, Waterloo gets 26.8% more snow. That is pretty material.

Look at this map. KW falls near/within the 'Major' snowbelt area, the map located in the bottom right.

http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/images/big03.gif

Wrong again. You have confused "precipitation" with "snowfall". That map located on the bottom right combines snowfall, sleet, and rainfall (i.e. total precipitation) with it's color-coded legend. I does show the snowbelt area far away from K-W if you look carefully (i.e. the dotted zone). If you carefully look at the dotted zone - on your map - you will see that Toronto is every bit as close to the snowbelt zone as K-W.

Here's a map for snowfall:

http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/maps/peopleandsociety/nunavut/land/snowfall

If you click on this map, you can zoom in on an area - like Waterloo Region. Notice that it is right on the edge of the light snowfall region. The "snowbelt" is located in the blue zone, which is a good 45-minute drive out of Kitchener/Waterloo.

As I have been saying, KW gets more snowfall than TO (which along with Windsor is in a light snowfall zone), but it certainly is not in a heavy snowfall area.

See, I told you so. :)

^Ah ha. The other map I had actually highlighted heavy snow fall if you looked at the legend but your map is a lot more zoomed in/accurate.

oceanmdx, your sig is proof positive that numbers lie... or they can be used to perpetuate myths like "lotusland".

Total rainfall? Since Vancouver enjoys endless days of grey, whining light rain that probably adds up to nothing, while Toronto can be dry for months and then pummelled with an explosive thunderstorm (like the one that washed out Finch Avenue)... that drops a ton of rain in hours... it might be more to the point to look at summer versus summer a little differently.

Yes it's true that southern Ontario (where I spent the first 25 years of my life) gets far more violent summer rain storms (thunderstorms) than Vancouver. Let's take a look at some other facts:

Out of a ranking of Canada's largest 100 communities let's see how Toronto and Vancouver came out regarding their summer weather:

Sunniest summers: Vancouver # 38 (792), Toronto # 47 (774) - Vancouver wins!

Windiest summers: Vancouver # 53, Toronto # 41 - Vancouver wins!

Driest summer air: Vancouver # 46, Toronto # 68 - Vancouver wins!

Most clear skies in summer: Vancouver # 11 (701), Toronto # 28 (653) - Vancouver wins.

Hmmmm, what were you saying about "endless days of grey" in Vancouver? You couldn't have been referring to summer. The facts are that in the summer, Vancouver gets about half the rain Toronto gets, is less windy, less humid, and gets more sunshine than Toronto.

http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/intro-e.html

We all have newspapers and we all know how to read a forecast. My favourite "da - Nile" is the classic "oh the rain lands everywhere in the Vancouver area, but never downtown".

The only one here perpetuating that myth is you! LOL. I never heard that one before.

The truth hurts but Vancouverites are famous for skewing the truth so they feel better about themselves. If you want to live in a real lotusland, move to San Diego... but it's still wetsuit time when you jump in the Pacific.

Actually, to be honest, I'd have to say Torontonians have been more the guilty party on skewing the truth here. I'm from Ontario (Waterloo) by the way.

I have lived in San Diego as well and I agree that overall it has the best weather in Canada or the USA. However, its winter and spring weather is nowhere near as good as here in Cabo San Lucas. :)

Toronto forecast - sunny 18c
Vancouver forecast - take a guess

Southern Ontario has the best fall weather in Canada - IMO. It even slightly beats out the Okanagan. The Great Lakes are a reservoir of heat, and you are currently enjoying the benefits. However, in the spring, the Okanagan is better than southern Ontario because the Great Lakes become a heat sink. When I arrived in Merritt, B.C on April 4th, it was so dry that they had the sprinklers out watering the lawns! At that time of year, Ontario is wet and generally miserable, when the Okanagan is dry and starting to warm up.

BTW, did you know that Lake Okanagan doesn't freeze over during the winter? In January/February/March people water ski on it. Let's see someone try waterskiing 356 days/year anywhere in Ontario. The Okanagan also is very close to world-class downhill skiing.

Actually, to be honest, I'd have to say Torontonians have been more the guilty party on skewing the truth here. I'm from Ontario by the way.

I have lived in San Diego as well and I agree that overall it has the best weather in Canada or the USA. However, it's winter and spring weather is nowhere near as good as here in Cabo San Lucas. :)

.

Well, being from Ontario doesn't really matter much seeing how in the last provincial election, the PCs were campaigning against Toronto to win votes outside of the GTA.

San Diego weather for some reason gives me headaches a lot. Must be the air pressure. Asside from that, warm, sunny dry heat, its good.

another Vancouver vs Toronto thread...

ocean mdxighri... you sold me,

Vancouver is the place where I will retire, cool summers and wet winters, perfect place for a retirement community/city.

^^The RV parks are very busy during the winter especially in Victoria. The management at the Fort Victoria RV Park in Victoria told me that they are jammed packed over winter. RV parks in the metro Vancouver area are also very busy over the winter. However, they are busy mainly because they attract Canadians who can't afford to spend their winters any further south. These people travel from the Prairies. People are willing to put up with the grey skies/rain to avoid the cold and snow. You won't see too may RV parks in Ontario doing a booming business over the winter.

The summer temperatures in Vancouver may be a little warmer than you think - especially if you go a little further inland to Langley or Abottsford. Check out Cultus Lake and Harrison Lake - both beautiful areas not far from Chilliwack.

Of course, the Okanagan has even warmer summers than Victoria/Vancouver. If you haven't seen Kelowna lately, you need to see it again. It looks rather affluent and is getting better all the time. You can take a non-stop flight from TO to Kelowna.

For the best spring weather in Canada by far, check out Osoyoos. It's only a small town but lowrise condos are being built.

If you like sunny, dry, and warm (but not too hot or humid), here is the best scenario for living in Canada:

January, February, early March: Victoria. Mild weather (for Canada) and not as much rain as the lower mainland of BC.

Late March, April, May and June: The Okanagan Valley(Osooyos being the warmest part) and Kamloops (Thompson Valley) are tops. For lower real estate prices check out the small town of Merritt located at the bottom of the Nicola Valley. These areas warm up a little faster than s. Ontario and they are much drier.

July and August: These two months are owned by Victoria/Nanaimo and the lower mainland of BC (Vancouver to Hope). The Okanagan can be too hot at this time of year and s. Ontario suffers from high humidex and air pollution.

Sept.,October and early Nov.: southern Ontario. The Great Lakes give up their heat reserves and gives the region a warmer fall than the Okanagan. The lower mainland of BC and Victoria are grey and rainy too much of the time for me.

Late Nov. and December and pretty shitty wherever you go in Canada. LOL.

^hence the richer retirees moving there, yes? I remember reading something about Victoria about retirees.

I hate humidity with a passion, as well as wet, cold winters. Living in NYC is the worst for this, especially last winter and this summer. Bitch about the summer being way to hot and humid, and bitch about the winter being to wet. I'm even bitching now about how cold October was vs. what I remember it being (considering I spent the previous 3 Octs. in the carribean).

^^ I have also lived in Florida and The Bahamas. The winter/spring weather in Cabo San Lucas (where I am now until mid-april) blows them both away.

Regarding Victoria, sure lots a people have retired there because of the mild winter climate, but Nanaimo isn't much worse and its real estate prices are a lot lower. At any rate, retired wealthy people spend their winters somewhere south.:)

oceanmdx,

Funny you live in Cabo. I am living right now in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (near Cancun), but we just had supposedly the biggest hurricane in the last 50 years to hit land, so I am thinking of moving to Cabo for better work prospects. If I go, I will be moving within the next couple weeks. I work in the tourism industry, so I rely on people vacationing here. Playa is actually pretty much right back to normal, but most of the tourists come from Cancun, where the hotel zone took a beating and will probably be out of commision for a couple months.

I hear Cabo is pretty amazing, but I also hear there isn't too much going on there for things to do? My agenda is really just to make money, so as long as there are pretty cool people there and a few nice beaches, I will be happy! And not to hijack the thread, but any recommendations (areas to live, places to see, bars or restaurants that will show Canucks games, etc).

Nazzy,

Apparently for many years now Cabo has been the fastest growing part of Mexico. Many large stores have opened up in the last year here. Home Depot just opened a few days ago. I know people working in the timeshare industry. This likely will be a good year for tourism in Cabo - partly because of the hurricane that affected Cancun. Cancun is warmer in the winter than Cabo, but we have some nice beaches too (although you can't beat Cancun).

For TV, you can get about 1/2 the normal channels on Bell ExpressVU and all the channels (except 1 or 2) on Star Choice here in Cabo. As far as areas to live, you may want to be closer to Cabo San Lucas vs. San Jose del Cabo because tourism is weighted more this way. So you would look to live in areas to the east of C.S.L. along the CSL/SJC highway corridor.

thanks for the factoids Ocean... funny how temperature isn't available from you expert sources. I always thought temperature should be factored into definitions of summer. Ah well.

Nonetheless, my sources confirm that you are correct.

Vancouver's summer, which typically happens the week of July 5th to July 12th... when the temperature manages to exceed 20C... does indeed have a higher percentage of sunny days than Toronto's summer which (courtesy of global warming/planet dying) typically extends as it did this year from late April/early May to late September/early October. Do the math.

So you are right and I (and everyone here in this region who will agree that we've had pretty much non-stop sun ... and warmth!... for 6 months) am/are wrong.

And I'll admit that today's T-Dot forecast I provided was wrong.

Forecast for T-Dot was sunny 18C - actual was sunny 21C.
Vancouver: Rain 9C - actual was no rain downtown, right?

Tomorrow's T-Dot forecast: 19C - actual?? doesn't matter.


Rest assured I know that Feb/Mar are much nicer in Vancouver than here (all my relatives live in that rainforest and they always call to gloat those 2 months) but on balance, there are more WARM, nice days/months in the Horeshoe than Vancouver will ever enjoy.

Enjoy Mexico! It beats the hell out of everyplace in Canuckistan.

All can be cleared up by going to the Weather Network and looking up the stats.

For example, the 6 months of Winter crap that people here (in Toronto, not on the boards, although sometimes this overlaps) complain about is a work of pure fiction. There are 3 months which I could do without: December, January, and February. November sucks, not because it is itself objectionable but because it is the harbinger of bad weather.

Winter doesn't bother me terribly, but it's not my favourite time of the year either. Canada's as a whole has a problem with objectionable Winter. I would like mild sunny weather, of about 15C or so coupled with constant sunny weather but such a climate only exists South of the border. I'm not impressed with rainy, wet, humid weather even if the temperature is higher, either.

thanks for the factoids Ocean... funny how temperature isn't available from you expert sources. I always thought temperature should be factored into definitions of summer. Ah well.

Obviously they used temperature statistics (and other facts) to arrive that their conclusions. I rather doubt that Environment Canada is trying to skew the facts against Toronto. ;)

You can find the climate statistics here:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/

Just type in the city, then select "statistics" in the left column.


Vancouver's summer, which typically happens the week of July 5th to July 12th... when the temperature manages to exceed 20C... does indeed have a higher percentage of sunny days than Toronto's summer which (courtesy of global warming/planet dying) typically extends as it did this year from late April/early May to late September/early October. Do the math.

I did the math - 98 % in calculus at the University of Waterloo as a matter of fact. ;)

This year brought an unusually early summer to Toronto - like my 81 year-old mother has never seen in her life. Typically, you don't get reliably warm weather at Toronto until at least May 21 - at the very earliest. But what would I know, my family has only been farming in the area for a couple of hundred years! You can even get cool weather in early June.

Whether we are referring to Toronto or Vancouver, the time period they use is exactly the same. Sure, Toronto gets hotter in the summer than Vancouver. You better have air conditioning in Toronto, but be prepared to pay the bill. Vancouver is warm but not hot and the humidity is moderate. You can actually live there without air conditioning most of the time during the summer.

So you are right and I (and everyone here in this region who will agree that we've had pretty much non-stop sun ... and warmth!... for 6 months) am/are wrong.

Hey, I was in southern Ontario for all of August and lived there for 25 years, so I have a very good idea what the climate is like. I'm just presenting you with the facts along with references to back them. What else can I do?

Forecast for T-Dot was sunny 18C - actual was sunny 21C.
Vancouver: Rain 9C - actual was no rain downtown, right?

Tomorrow's T-Dot forecast: 19C - actual?? doesn't matter.

Like I already said, the fall in s. Ontario beats out the rest of the country.


Rest assured I know that Feb/Mar are much nicer in Vancouver than here (all my relatives live in that rainforest and they always call to gloat those 2 months) but on balance, there are more WARM, nice days/months in the Horeshoe than Vancouver will ever enjoy.


Actually, here are some more facts:

Fewest freezing days: Van. #1, TO # 25, Vancouver wins!

Warmest year round: Van. #2, TO #21, Vancouver wins!

High humidex days above 35 deg. C.: Van #72, TO #5, Vancouver wins!

I'll take Vancouver/Victoria summers over TO's.

Forecast for T-Dot was sunny 18C - actual was sunny 21C.
Vancouver: Rain 9C - actual was no rain downtown, right?

Tomorrow's T-Dot forecast: 19C - actual?? doesn't matter.
Toronto's average temp for November is 7C high/2C low, though, so 21C is sorta above average... :tongue3:

^^ Actually at Toronto, the average high/low for this date is 11C/2C respectively. For Vancouver, it's 11C/5C. So the average daily temp. for this date is actually warmer for Van.

http://weather.canoe.ca/Weather/CityTorontoON.html

Vancouver and Toronto's weather, IMO, can't be compared, because they are too different. Vancouver's climate is maritime, Toronto's is northern continental. So, it's between likeing Winter to be cool and rainy, and summer being warm and sunny, or summer being hot and humid, and winter being a fridged wasteland. Personally, I'd prefer Vancouvers weather. That doesn't mean it's better.

^^ Actually at Toronto, the average high/low for this date is 11C/2C respectively. For Vancouver, it's 11C/5C. So the average daily temp. for this date is actually warmer for Van.

http://weather.canoe.ca/Weather/CityTorontoON.html
Ohh, okay! Thanks. :)

I would like mild sunny weather, of about 15C or so coupled with constant sunny weather but such a climate only exists South of the border. I'm not impressed with rainy, wet, humid weather even if the temperature is higher, either.

Actually, you would love Calgary during a chinook in the winter, because that is exactly what you are describing. Temperatures can hit 20C. and it is always very sunny during a chinook.

^ yeah, but it doesn't count when it stays for a bit and then goes down to -20... Needs to be consistent.

^^ Oh darn!

Actually, Calgary can go as low as around -35 C. Ouch.

^ I spent some time in Winnipeg so I remember the -35s (and below). Now that kind of weather I cannot bear. I'm kind of a weakling.

^^ The good thing about -35 C weather is that when it goes up to -23 C, it actually feels warm. I spent 15 years living in Alberta.

Yeah, and in January when it warms to -5, people are out in Tshirts and shorts.

^^ Yeah, all Canadians should experience a chinook in southern Alberta during the winter.

Recall the '88 Winter Olympics in Calgary. When the athletes were flying into town it was about -35 C, but soon after the Olympics began it started to warm up because a chinook rolled into town. The ski runs melted and the bobsled run was melting to the point where they had to shade it with a tarp. Understand that they were using the best equipment in the world to keep it frozen and they had a bitch of a time. That's how warm Calgary can get in the winter.

^well Oceanmdx, I somewhat disagree with your monthly breakdown of where to live...more like AZ or SoCal from Nov to March/April, and Okanagan (my favourite), southern AB, or even Sask in the summer.

I was very glad to get out of Van tonight, can't wait to see the sun tomorrow.

+20c in Calgary in Dec/Jan is very rare, but +10 to +15 is not.

Salvius - I love when a TOer talks like there is a breaking point to how cold you can handle it...-35, or -20, doesn't matter they're both cold. I've been in TO at -20 so its not like it doesn't happen.

In fact, over the last 25 years, Calgary's average high in January is pretty much exactly the same as TOs anyway (TO is warmer in Dec, but colder in Feb). Regardless, unless you enjoy going outside for a game of shinny, or a drive to the mountains for skiing, it sucks...and I guess you don't have mountains there.

Van's summers are dry, and quite sunny...more than TOs for sure. However, it never really gets that warm. Its comfortable, but never feels like summer. TO on the other hand hits you like a ton of bricks...and if you can manage to breath, and like feeling wet all the time, it may seem enjoyable.

Canada Cowboy, I grew up in Calgary but have lived on Vancouver Island for the past six years...and I really can't believe you think Alberta summers are better?

A) They are not that much warmer

B) Summer rain/hail/thunderstorms/yada yada...non existent in B.C., common occurence in Alberta. And the weather back there is s variable, it can be sunny and scorching and then be 10C and pelting hail with dark, threatening clouds. Not my idea of an "ideal" summer.

Here on the Vancouver Island we get at least two solid months of sun, mild-warm temps, little if any rain, and swimmable ocean temps (21C off Parksville, about as warm as the open ocean off of So. Cal as a matter of fact.) And that's not counting the beautiful weather we can get in May, June, September, and even early October. Of course, those months are more variable than July and August...

The best season here on the Island, however, has got to be January/February, when flowers start pushing up.

^well Oceanmdx, I somewhat disagree with your monthly breakdown of where to live...more like AZ or SoCal from Nov to March/April, and Okanagan (my favourite), southern AB, or even Sask in the summer.



The US doesn't count, I was just talking about where to be in Canada. The winter weather in Az & s. Cal. is shitty in comparison to here in Cabo.

Ocean

In a world of climate change that has dramatically altered weather patterns already in the last decade (particularly s. ontario)... it is stupid to keep quoting "rankings" based on 30-50 year old records from Environment Canada... they don't tell the truth any more. Try 10 years and the data will be very different. Not a good thing for the planet, but true nonetheless.

As for your family living in s. ontario for a hundred years... same thing goes... hundred year old "opinions" don't play any more.. and it hardly makes you an expert as your comment below indicates:

"Typically, you don't get reliably warm weather at Toronto until at least May 21 - at the very earliest. "

This is a 1950s version of when it's safe to plant the flowers- the May 24th weekend. Here's a real life testimonial... take it or leave it: With a couple of exceptions, in the last decade my garden goes in a month earlier and comes out a month or more later (like this year... everything's still blooming).

Many of those years, the weather literally changed from "wintery" to "summery" and skipped spring altogether. Temperatures in the mid to high-20s in April for example. Anyone who lives in this region will remember these dramatic temperature shifts and there are no doubt stats some where but I can't be bothered.

That's reality not rankings based 50 year-old averages.

So forget dropping the historical references by satellite from Mexico... if you don't live here you clearly don't know.

Stats are numbers available from a broad range of sources and numbers don't always tell the truth... and you can find any source to make your case if you look for it.

For example here's some stats that tell me very quickly 2 things I have alluded to in this thread:

Vancouver ain't warm (much less hot) in its so-called summer and it even gets 22 inches of snow in winter ("it never snows in Vancouver"). And given it is probably raining in Vancouver @ 3C in January, one might suggest a -4C sunny day in Toronto is preferrable. Is this the whole picture? probably not. Just a different POV. :)

Vancouver
Average January temp: 3°C (37°F).
Average July temp: 17°C (63°F).
Annual rainfall: 1,219 mm
Annual snowfall: 549mm (22 inches)

Toronto
Average January temp: - 4°C (23°F).
Average July temp: 23°C (72°F).
Annual rainfall: 669mm
Annual snowfall: 1250mm

BTW... bad news... despite climate change, any weather historian will tell you the Vancouver area is about to move into a "rainy period" over the next few decades! Oh dear.

Vancouver 17 + 3 = 20/2 = 10C
Toronto 23 - 4 = 19/2 = 9.5C

Vancouver wins!


but seriously, unless you really really love the heat, Vancouvers summers are very pleasent. The average daytime high in July and August is 22C, almost always sunny and no humidity.

In a world of climate change that has dramatically altered weather patterns already in the last decade (particularly s. ontario)... it is stupid to keep quoting "rankings" based on 30-50 year old records from Environment Canada... they don't tell the truth any more. Try 10 years and the data will be very different. Not a good thing for the planet, but true nonetheless.

10 years is not long enough for serious climate study. The last 10 years have been warmer everywhere but we could easily enter a cold period.

As for your family living in s. ontario for a hundred years... same thing goes... hundred year old "opinions" don't play any more.. and it hardly makes you an expert as your comment below indicates:

"Typically, you don't get reliably warm weather at Toronto until at least May 21 - at the very earliest. "

This is a 1950s version of when it's safe to plant the flowers- the May 24th weekend. Here's a real life testimonial... take it or leave it: With a couple of exceptions, in the last decade my garden goes in a month earlier and comes out a month or more later (like this year... everything's still blooming).

Many of those years, the weather literally changed from "wintery" to "summery" and skipped spring altogether. Temperatures in the mid to high-20s in April for example. Anyone who lives in this region will remember these dramatic temperature shifts and there are no doubt stats some where but I can't be bothered.

Toronto is a massive sprawling city, that is the only reason that there is a major warming in your weather ~ the urban heat island. If you move out into the rural areas I am sure there has been much less of a change.

Temperatures in the mid 20's have happened all over the place and I doubt the mid to high 20's lasted for that long anyway.

example

Toronto Pierson
April 2002

14 11.5 8.1
15 20.9 8.0
16 29.6 9.9
17 28.5 16.3
18 25.9 14.2
19 23.5 9.6...has summer arrived!? Start planting away!
20 11.4 2.2..wait a min
21 5.7 0.3..oh crap
22 3.7 -0.8...your plants are dead

Perhaps things will be better in May...surely summer will be there!

May 2002

15 17.4 4.3
16 20.1 6.5
17 10.9 4.2
18 7.9 2.4
19 8.6 -0.8
20 8.6 -0.1
21 13.1 1.0

Perhaps you should wait until May 21st after all? ;)

Ocean

In a world of climate change that has dramatically altered weather patterns already in the last decade (particularly s. ontario)... it is stupid to keep quoting "rankings" based on 30-50 year old records from Environment Canada... they don't tell the truth any more. Try 10 years and the data will be very different. Not a good thing for the planet, but true nonetheless.

Excluding the urban island heating phenomenon, what you are saying is specious. "Particularly s. Ontario" is being affected by global warming you imply? Sorry, but you are wrong again. The part of Canada most affected by global warming - by far - is the arctic. Sure this summer in s. Ontario was early, sunny and warm, but only last year and the year before the summer there was extremely cool. In fact, I can't remember a summer as cool as 2003 and 2004 in my life. You have one nice summer and now you're shouting about how global warming is causing a major change in s. Ontario's climate - now that's stupid. The fact is, while the far north is being significantly affected by global warming there is no evidence that s. Ontario is. You don't realize that the last few winters were so cold that the grape vines in the Niagara Region were heavily damaged:

VINTAGE REPORT
The Ontario grape harvest fell significantly below previous levels due to unusually cold 2002/2003 winter weather. Extreme cold temperatures reduced the overall grape crop by approximately 40-50 per cent. Lake Erie North Shore lost approximately 25 per cent of their crop. In some areas, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc were down by 75 per cent. Cabernet Franc, Gamay and with a few exceptions, Riesling seemed to have weathered the extreme winter temperatures. As a result of the severe shortfall of the crop, the Grape Growers of Ontario and the Wine Council of Ontario met and agreed upon ways of alleviating the crop shortage on the wine industry.
Weather conditions were extremely inclement this year. The winter was one of the coldest on record in the past several years. Along the lake in the Niagara Region, recorded temperatures were -19.2°C during January to March, with February being colder than January. Inland temperatures plummeted to -24.5°C. Harrow experienced the same type of temperatures. Cool temperatures continued well into the spring with a low of 0.9°C being recorded in early May.
Overall 2003 followed a similar pattern to 2000, which also had the same heat units and a slow start to the season. Rainfall was consistent throughout the season but fortunately there were in fact short periods of heavy rain in May (142.0mm) which made it difficult to start any early plantings.

http://www.winesofontario.org/PDFs/MediaKit.pdf

St. Catharines, ON (June 1, 2005) – Ray Duc Chair of the Grape Growers of Ontario
today announced that a severe winter in 2005 has caused more growers to turn to wind
machines to lessen future crop damage.

http://www.grapegrowersofontario.com/db_media/1118079948.pdf

Global warming isn't helping the crops in s. Ontario very much.

So forget dropping the historical references by satellite from Mexico... if you don't live here you clearly don't know.

Nearly all my family live in s. Ontario and I monitor the weather there frequently over the Internet. You're argument that I don't know shit because climate change has markedly affected the climate of s. Ontario and that I don't live there is ridiculous. When I was in Waterloo in August, my sister - who has lived all of her 58 years in Waterloo - told me that the winters are getting colder.

BTW... bad news... despite climate change, any weather historian will tell you the Vancouver area is about to move into a "rainy period" over the next few decades! Oh dear.

Seeing how you reason, I'll bet that one very wet year would amount to proof to you that that prediction has come true. Also very odd is how you criticize me for using rankings to make a point, then you turn around and use the statistics on which the rankings are based to make your point. :bash:

Canada Cowboy, I grew up in Calgary but have lived on Vancouver Island for the past six years...and I really can't believe you think Alberta summers are better?

A) They are not that much warmer

B) Summer rain/hail/thunderstorms/yada yada...non existent in B.C., common occurence in Alberta. And the weather back there is s variable, it can be sunny and scorching and then be 10C and pelting hail with dark, threatening clouds. Not my idea of an "ideal" summer.

Here on the Vancouver Island we get at least two solid months of sun, mild-warm temps, little if any rain, and swimmable ocean temps (21C off Parksville, about as warm as the open ocean off of So. Cal as a matter of fact.) And that's not counting the beautiful weather we can get in May, June, September, and even early October. Of course, those months are more variable than July and August...

The best season here on the Island, however, has got to be January/February, when flowers start pushing up.

Yes, Calgary summers suck - but if you like getting outta town at all, Southern AB (especially SE AB) is quite a bit warmer than the lower mainland, or Van Island, averaging up to 29c or 30c in July - about 6-7 degrees warmer than SW BC ..I'm not disputing the nice weather Van/Vic get - but I do like it reaching into the high 20's/low 30's...BUT without the humidity that TO area gets (or even Wpg at times).

You may recall thunderstorms fly over AB anyhow - rarely lasting long...in fact, most of the time, they seem to last 5-10 minutes and then clear up - hence the popular saying "if you don't like the weather, wait 5 mins". Even in Calgary, South Calgary is considerably drier than north Calgary in the summer.

By far, within Canada, the best weather in the summer is Okanagan - and I'll stick to that...however, some in SE AB/SW Sask may (rightfully) claim to have some of the nicest summers in the country.

The US doesn't count, I was just talking about where to be in Canada. The winter weather in Az & s. Cal. is shitty in comparison to here in Cabo.


Yes, Mexico is quite nice in winter...however, a) I need to be close to a major airport to get around for work (such as SkyHarbour or LAX), and b) unless I'm sipping some nice tropical drink by a pool, it can be TOO hot. Phoenix or palm springs sits at a nice 19-22c in the winter, with very little rain, which is perfect for doing many things...similar to Van or Cgy summers :-)

No where in Canada in winter can actually be described as pleasant.

oceanmdx,

Thanks for the info on Cabo. I'm in timeshare right now as well, and I know a lot of people who are moving to Cabo right now for a job. Wilma was quite the bitch!

As for this weather debate, I find it interesting how Vancouver has all the facts backing itself up, yet now the Torontonians are relying on extending the stereotype to back up there points. The Great Canadian myths shall continue, I guess....

For me it is simple (and by no means does anyone have to agree with me): I would rather have it rain over the winter than the summer, especially if it means no brown slush to clean up and drive in, and no ridiculously cold weather.. Thus Vancouver's weather is pretty much ideal for me (compared to Toronto's, that is).

^well Oceanmdx, I somewhat disagree with your monthly breakdown of where to live...more like AZ or SoCal from Nov to March/April, and Okanagan (my favourite), southern AB, or even Sask in the summer.

I was very glad to get out of Van tonight, can't wait to see the sun tomorrow.

+20c in Calgary in Dec/Jan is very rare, but +10 to +15 is not.

Salvius - I love when a TOer talks like there is a breaking point to how cold you can handle it...-35, or -20, doesn't matter they're both cold. I've been in TO at -20 so its not like it doesn't happen.

In fact, over the last 25 years, Calgary's average high in January is pretty much exactly the same as TOs anyway (TO is warmer in Dec, but colder in Feb). Regardless, unless you enjoy going outside for a game of shinny, or a drive to the mountains for skiing, it sucks...and I guess you don't have mountains there.

Van's summers are dry, and quite sunny...more than TOs for sure. However, it never really gets that warm. Its comfortable, but never feels like summer. TO on the other hand hits you like a ton of bricks...and if you can manage to breath, and like feeling wet all the time, it may seem enjoyable.


Yes, but the average highs and even lows aren't a true indication of anything as a result of chinook winds. Some may like this variation; it's personal preference, but there's no doubt weather extremes hit Calgary to a considerably higher degree than Toronto.

^^ I read that southern Alberta has the most variable winter climate in the world. I recall one year where it snowed in late August and they couldn't harvest the crops so they waited until January when a strong chinook came in and melted all the snow. The crops were okay because the snow protected them.

Canada Cowboy said

By far, within Canada, the best weather in the summer is Okanagan - and I'll stick to that...however, some in SE AB/SW Sask may (rightfully) claim to have some of the nicest summers in the country.

Well, I guess it really is true that it's all a matter of opinion. The Okanagan is waay too toasty for me in the summer, it leaves me feeling sluggish and gross. Also, I've noticed a phenomenon where the afternoons tend to cloud over fairly often and become hazy in the Okanagan, despite its sunny "reputation", so I looked it up online and sure enough, Victoria is actually even drier and sunnier than Kelowna in July and August. Go figure.

I guess I'm a sun-worshipper. I don't really care if the temperature is boiling, that just means I can't go for a jog. Give me 23C and sunshine any day, it's just perfect for me. But, it is all a matter of taste.

Canada Cowboy said



Well, I guess it really is true that it's all a matter of opinion. The Okanagan is waay too toasty for me in the summer, it leaves me feeling sluggish and gross. Also, I've noticed a phenomenon where the afternoons tend to cloud over fairly often and become hazy in the Okanagan, despite its sunny "reputation", so I looked it up online and sure enough, Victoria is actually even drier and sunnier than Kelowna in July and August. Go figure.

I guess I'm a sun-worshipper. I don't really care if the temperature is boiling, that just means I can't go for a jog. Give me 23C and sunshine any day, it's just perfect for me. But, it is all a matter of taste.

Of course its a matter of opinion! Otherwise we'd all be agreeing on one location (though, OceanMDX is seemingly in the right spot).

I have many friends/colleagues in Van/Vic that would agree with you - you get use to a small (relatively) temperature change throughout the year, that 20-23c feels perfect. I've noticed a lot of Vancouverites in September/October still walking around in shorts despite the temps dropping into the mid-teens.

Victoria is hard to beat in July/Aug for sunshine - its a few hours better than Calgary, and about 20 (each month) better than Kelowna. But I wouldn't say Kelowna is hazy fairly often in those months...if nothing else the grapes rely on some good solid bright sunshine. :)

And though I'm splitting hairs with this stat - Calgary is ranked 5th for driest summers, where Kelowna ranks 15th (Penticton 14th), and Victoria 31st...out of 82 ranked.

EDIT: I should also point out that Medicine Hat is the driest city, recording on average 271 days without measurable precipitation.

^^I would agree that for summer weather, Medicine Hat (and possibly Lethbridge) could be another option. My beef with Alberta's summers is that they are not reliably warm - the exception is Medicine Hat. It's a nice small city, but I don't care to be in the middle of the bald prairie.

^^ I read that southern Alberta has the most variable winter climate in the world. I recall one year where it snowed in late August and they couldn't harvest the crops so they waited until January when a strong chinook came in and melted all the snow. The crops were okay because the snow protected them.

It definitely is - oceanmdx, I guess you've experienced it, but for anyone that hasn't witnessed/experienced a Chinook its hard to imagine. It's only scary if you get migraines.

Pincher Creek, January, 1962 - holds the Canadian record for most extreme temperature change...from -19c to +22c in an hour.

Pincher Creek, Jan, 1966 recorded the fastest temperature change - 37.8 degrees in just 4 minutes.

Claresholm, Feb, 1992 - has recorded the highest Canadian temperature in Feb, at 24c.

Lethbridge, Nov 1962 - winds there gusted to 171 km/h (107 mph) in an especially powerful chinook

The SW corner of AB is one of very few spots in Canada that record above 0c temperatures "on average" every month (southern BC, and southern Ont being the others).

^^Interesting facts, are they in C. degrees?

This gives me another chance to dispell a myth. That is that chinooks don't go north of Calgary. Chinooks usually go all the way up to Edmonton (and beyond). They don't last as long, the temperature increase isn't quite as great and Calgary gets a few more of them (not all chinooks go as far as Edmonton), but Edmonton definately gets chinooks.

The SW corner of AB is one of very few spots in Canada that record above 0c temperatures "on average" every month (southern BC, and southern Ont being the others).

Don't forget Nova Scotia!

Pincher Creek, Jan, 1966 recorded the fastest temperature change - 37.8 degrees in just 4 minutes.
Wholly crap. I hope that was a temperature increase and not a drop. Imagine getting caught away from shelter in shorts & t-shirt when the temperature drops from 28 to -10 degrees.

I don't think anywhere in Ontario have average highs above 0 every month. Even Windsor is -1.

The warmest stations in mainland NS are around +2/+3 and in BC it's about +7.

And though I'm splitting hairs with this stat - Calgary is ranked 5th for driest summers, where Kelowna ranks 15th (Penticton 14th), and Victoria 31st...out of 82 ranked.

You're right, we are splitting hairs at this point, but I really don't get where that last stat came from?

CALGARY:

July: 2.6 inches/65mm
August: 2.2 inches/57.1mm
4.8 inches total, or 122.1 mm

VICTORIA

July: 0.5 inches/12.5mm
August: 0.7 inches/17.7mm
1.2 inches total, or 30.3 mm

I couldn't find statistics on Kelowna at www.worldclimate.com but I would assume from experience that it recieves more rain than Victoria during the summer, but less than Calgary?

The Victoria rainfall totals are taken from the weather station on Gonzales Hill, so they may actually be a bit wetter than downtown. I didn't use Victoria Int'l because its waay out on the Saanich peninsula and has different weather from Victoria.

For the record, Toronto gets even more than Calgary, around 6 inches through July and August!

You're right, we are splitting hairs at this point, but I really don't get where that last stat came from?

CALGARY:

July: 2.6 inches/65mm
August: 2.2 inches/57.1mm
4.8 inches total, or 122.1 mm

VICTORIA

July: 0.5 inches/12.5mm
August: 0.7 inches/17.7mm
1.2 inches total, or 30.3 mm

I couldn't find statistics on Kelowna at www.worldclimate.com but I would assume from experience that it recieves more rain than Victoria during the summer, but less than Calgary?

The Victoria rainfall totals are taken from the weather station on Gonzales Hill, so they may actually be a bit wetter than downtown. I didn't use Victoria Int'l because its waay out on the Saanich peninsula and has different weather from Victoria.

For the record, Toronto gets even more than Calgary, around 6 inches through July and August!

Sorry, I thought you were refering to the dryness in the air - that's where those rankings came from...based on the lowest average hourly vapour pressure (kPa) in June, July and August.

Hard to beat Victoria for least amount of rain in July/Aug...but, at the same time, 30-40mm "extra" isn't too much - that's one days worth on a winter day in Vancouver :-)

I don't think anywhere in Ontario have average highs above 0 every month. Even Windsor is -1.

The warmest stations in mainland NS are around +2/+3 and in BC it's about +7.

Yep - completely wrong with that...forgot about Nova Scotia, but I used a different source for Windsor's average - theweathernetwork (I should know better). Looking at EC - which is what I usually rely on - Windsor is -.9c.

Big deal though, guess it doesn't make much difference...except for the humidity, that can make a difference how the temperature "feels" down to about -10c.

based on E/C
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/element.cfm?Lang=e&SelectedElement=
Kamloops is second dryest city in Canada and Warmest .

^^ Actually Osoyoos is even warmer, but it's not a city and not included in the rankings.

Yeah, but although Osoyoos is probably technically the hottest place in Canada, southern Ontario is just as warm or warmer when you take the humidex into account, particularly Windsor, which has recorded a humidex reading of 52C! That's almost 10 degrees hotter than Osoyoos's all-time high record.

Of course, without taking humidex into account, Osoyoos probably wins by a mile in terms of average summer temperatures.

Yes Osoyoos is very Hot , but when it comes to 35.5 and 35.3 its all Hourse shoes and hand grenades

I would rather live in Osoyoos, Its milder in the winter.

The thing that is so impressive with the climate of the Okanagan - and Osoyoos in particular - is how fast the weather becomes warm and dry in the spring. In Ontario, winter tends to linger and it's wetter in the spring. In Ontario April showers bring May flowers, but in Osoyoos, they just irrigate and have flowers in March. :)

The thing that is so impressive with the climate of the Okanagan - and Osoyoos in particular - is how fast the weather becomes warm and dry in the spring. In Ontario, winter tends to linger and it's wetter in the spring. In Ontario April showers bring May flowers, but in Osoyoos, they just irrigate and have flowers in March. :)

I've noticed that - I am looking at that climate data now ( I'm a weather nerd)


What is the population of Osoyoos?

^^ Around 6,000.

Ahaha, wtf, there's a place called Osoyoos. Hey, how do you pronounce that.

^^ O-sue-yoos.

One of these days, I'm going to have to start a thread on the cities of the Okanagan.

Recommended reading: Discovering The Okanagan - The ultimate guide by Jim Couper.

Ive attempted this allready with the British Columbia Project thread.
I hope it will be stuck sometime so that more info on the remainder of the province can get told there .