The 7 Hottest Places in Canada

Canada might not be the first place that springs to mind for ‘warm destination’, but there are actually places in Canada where you can enjoy high temperatures in the summer – and escape the worst of the cold winters. Average weather in Canada ranges from freezing cold to hot, with July being the hottest month. In fact, a recent record-breaking temperature of 46.6°C was recorded in the town of Lytton, British Columbia. This high set a record for the town, British Columbia and Canada overall. That broke a national record set in 1937. The lowest ever recorded temperature in Canada was -63°C at Snag, Yukon in 1947. Of the hottest places in Canada, most of them are located in Canada’s westernmost province, British Columbia. The No.1 hottest place in Canada is Victoria, BC.

  1. Victoria, BC
  2. Abbotsford, BC
  3. Kelowna, BC
  4. Windsor, Ontario
  5. Vancouver, BC

January is the coldest and snowiest month of the year in Canada. Canada actually ties with Russia for first place as the coldest nation in the world, with an average daily annual temperature of -5.6ºC!

But enough about how cold it is, what about the warmer places in Canada? Don’t worry, they do exist. While BC may be best known for skiing destinations such as Whistler, there are several coastal locations where people enjoy warm summers and a milder winter. Canada has a varied climate due to its large geography, so the warmest regions are the west and east coast.

Temperatures have increased more in northern Canada than in southern Canada, with the annual mean temperature over northern Canada increasing by roughly 3 times the global mean warming rate, according to climate data.

Hottest Places in Canada

1. Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria is a popular place for people to retire to, and with good reason: it’s positively balmy. It has the mildest and driest climate in all of Canada. This is because Victoria is in a temperate, sub-​Mediterranean climate zone. It enjoys almost 2,200 hours of sunshine and eight months of a frost-free season. Average summer temps reach max highs of about 30ºC (86 ºF).

You can also enjoy all the usual winter activities here, such as ice skating and Christmas markets. Best bit? You can still feel your hands and feet!

Hottest month: August 25°C

Average summer temperature: 24°C

Average winter temperature: 4°C

2. Abbotsford, British Columbia

Abbotsford is a large, rural city east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley, famous for its scenic farmland. Its welcoming hospitality and nature attracts visitors year-round. Abbotsford also boasts fair weather, with milder winters than the rest of Canada and pleasantly warm summers. There’s lots to discover in this region, with good weather pretty much guaranteed. You can still expect snow in winter, but nothing too extreme.

Hottest month: July 25°C

Average summer temperature: 23°C

Average winter temperature: 1°C

3. Kelowna, British Columbia

Kelowna’s weather is envied by much of Canada! Its mild winters and warm summers with low humidity makes Kelowna a popular place to live and visit. This city is in the Okanagan valley, so summers can get HOT. An unusual recent heatwave sees Kelowna hitting temperatures of almost 46°C. Before the current heat wave, Kelowna’s all-​time record-high temperature was 41°C.

Winters are mild yet still dry and cold. From October to March, Kelowna can remain below freezing all day long. It generally has 26 days a year when the temperature never rises above 0 °C.

Hottest month: August 28°C

Average summer temperature: 25°C

Average winter temperature: -3°C

4. Windsor, Ontario

Windsor often experiences extreme temperatures, with hot summers and freezing, dry winy winters. It is partly cloudy year round. Windsor is the warmest city in Ontario. Its location on the shores of the Great Lakes means that summer here is hot and often very humid. Winter in Windsor lasts from December to March and the city typically has 116 days a year when the minimum temperature is at 0 °C or below.

Hottest month: July 28°C

Average summer temperature: 26°C

Average winter temperature: -5°C

5. Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver has a mild, oceanic climate and is protected by the mountains, with warmth coming from the Pacific ocean. Although Vancouver has a reputation for rain, rain and more rain, it’s actually only the 9th rainiest city in Canada. Temperatures above 35 °C  are rare, with typical summer temperatures in the mid-20s. July and August are the driest months in Vancouver, so plan your visit then for warm and dry days. Vancouver’s chilliest winter nights often have lows below -10 °C and the city can remain below freezing all day long from November to February.

Vancouver has lots to do year-round, with world-class restaurants and shopping. In summer, you can enjoy outdoor events and park picnics, with ice skating and Christmas markets in the winter.

Hottest month: July 22°C

Average summer temperature: 22°C

Average winter temperature: 1°C

hottest places Canada

6. St. Catharines, Ontario

Also known as ‘The Garden City’, St. Catharines is famous for its lush parks and gardens. It is the largest city in the Niagara region, located in south-central Ontario, and enjoys a unique microclimate because of the influence of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and the sheltering effect of the Niagara Escarpment. Summers can get pretty hot here; the city averages 14 days a year with 30-degree Celsius weather, usually from April to September. As for winter? Expect about 7 days a year when the minimum temperature is at 0 °C or below.

Hottest month: July 31°C

Average summer temperature: 27°C

Average winter temperature: 0°C

hottest places Canada

7. Brantford, Ontario

Brantford is a mid-size town on the shores of the Grand River in southern Ontario. The hottest days at Brantford usually have temperatures peaking in the low-30s Celsius – it’s unusual for temperatures to go above 30 degrees. The city also experiences a lot of rain, and whilst June is one of the hottest months in Brantford, it’s also the wettest.  July sees the best weather, with average temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius. The lowest average temperatures in the year are in January, when it is around -5.2 °C.

Hottest month: July 22°C

Average summer temperature: 22°C

Average winter temperature: -5°C

hottest places Canada

Planning a trip to Canada? You can see more guides to Toronto and Vancouver here, and book your Canada hotels here.

Sarah Clayton-Lea

Co-founder of Big 7 Travel, Sarah created the company through her passion for championing the world's best food and travel experiences. Before her career in digital media, where she previously held roles such as Editor of Food&Wine Ireland, Sarah worked in the hospitality industry in Dublin and New York.

Contact [email protected]

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