Halifax, Canada: When to Go and Weather

Weather: The Canadian city of Halifax is located on one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Winds and currents from the Atlantic Ocean greatly affect Halifax weather: the foggy city experiences an eastern-maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. Fog or mist obscure the city's skyline roughly one out of three days, though late summer and early fall usually see clear skies.

Summer: Cool, foggy mornings and warm, sunny afternoons characterize Halifax weather in the months of July and August. June still feels like spring. The average temperature is 75 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 3.8 inches.

Fall: November sees an average of 5.5 inches of rain, but September and October are usually sunny in Halifax. Temperatures drop nearly to freezing at night. The average temperature is 54 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 3.2 inches.

Winter: 25 inches of snow typically fall in Halifax in January. High winds and fog may make transportation a problem and could delay flights. The average temperature is 25 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 3.5 inches.

Spring: This is the foggiest season. Halifax weather is chilly in April, but temperatures climb into the 50s by early May. The average temperature is 42 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 2.5 inches.

Looking for local weather reports? Try CBC Nova Scotia (www.cbc.ca).

When to Go: Peak Season
Travelers flock to Nova Scotia's outdoor attractions in summertime. Many visitors are either based in Halifax for a weeklong vacation, while others are passing through on their way out to more remote areas of the province. Whale-watching is a big tourist draw in summer, and the kayak and bicycle rental stands see steady business, especially on weekends. Golfers have a range of courses to choose from. Most importantly, the moderate weather makes all kinds of outdoor activities appealing: for most of June and July, the temperatures stay in the 70s, and rain showers are usually short-lasting. Hotels charge their highest rates at this time.

When to Go: Off Season
Halifax sees fewer visitors during the cold winter. The city does see a lot of tourist traffic passing through on their way to Nova Scotia's ski slopes and cross-country skiing areas, however, and the most popular hotels may even be full on weekends. Halifax weather is mild in winter compared to that of many Canadian cities, but the city's temperatures are still below freezing many days in January, and snowfall is frequent. Halifax sees only a few hours of daylight during the winter, so visitors should be prepared for dark, chilly weather (on the other hand, it's a perfect time to visit the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.)

When to Go: Shoulder Season
Fall and spring may be Halifax's shoulder seasons, but they are almost as busy as summer. Major events like the Atlantic Film Festival and the Celtic Colours International Festival bring large numbers of visitors to town, and the weather almost always cooperates: early fall is the sunniest, clearest time of the year in Nova Scotia. Hotel rates spike during weekend events - and something is going on nearly every weekend in September and October - but visitors can get a better deal if they're staying for a full week. November isn't quite as appealing, as the weather is colder but the ski season hasn't kicked off yet.

• Mon

   

  Cloudy

  45  34

• Tue

   

  Showers

  49  45

• Wed

   

  Rain

  52  46

• Thu

   

  Cloudy

  50  44

• Fri

   

  Showers

  48  44

• Sat

   

  Showers

  50  37

• Sun

   

  Showers

  41  31

Get more information on Halifax weather.