Climate and Seasons

In Canada, there are four different seasons: spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter.

In the winter, the days are shorter and colder. When outdoors, people wear mitts or gloves, scarves, hats, warm coats, and insulated boots. In the summer, the days are longer and warmer.

Overall, the climate varies dramatically across Canada. Many factors influence climate, such as distance from large bodies of water, latitude, elevation, and prevailing winds.

Some regions, particularly the southern coastal regions, have relatively mild climates. Temperatures might range from -10° to 5° Celsius in the winter and 10°C to 30°C in the summer. In these coastal regions, there is more rain than snow during the winter. Some parts of Canada, such as the West Coast, are quite humid. Other parts, like the Prairies, are very dry.

Typical Features of Seasons in Southern Part of Canada

Spring (March to May)

• Snow begins to melt
• Known as rainy season in most parts of Canada
• Days become warmer, but nights are still cool
• Plants begin to grow but, in most parts of Canada, trees remain bare until April or May

Summer (June to August - can last until mid-September)

• Temperatures can reach 30°C or higher
• Typically hot, dry weather with occasional rainstorms
• Often humid near the Great Lakes
• Season of mosquitoes or black flies in most areas

Autumn (or Fall) (September to November)

• Days become shorter
• First frost appears
• Leaves change from green to red, brown, or yellow before falling off trees
• Weather rainy and unpredictable
• First snowfall usually in November

Winter (December to February or later)

• Season of snow and ice
• Duration of snow coverage varies from as early as October to later than March
• Temperatures below 0°C from December to mid-March, particularly at night
• Winds can make temperatures feel even colder (known as the wind chill factor)
• East and west coasts have milder winters with warmer temperatures; usually very rainy

Heating Systems

The temperature in Canada can change very quickly. Canadian homes are built to accommodate these temperature changes. Homes and buildings in Canada have insulation and heating devices to control indoor temperatures. Homes are equipped with electric heaters, natural gas or oil-fuelled furnaces which blow warm air through vents or circulate hot water.

Before you move into your new home make arrangements with a service company to provide you with heat/fuel. Check in the Yellow Pages of your local phone book for service companies in your area. Look under Gas, Heating Companies, Oils/Fuel, and Hydro-Electric.

• If you are in rented accommodation and are paying for your heat, ask your landlord for the name of your provider.
• If you have bought a home, ask the previous owner for the name of the heating service provider they used.
• To determine what your heating will cost, contact the company that has been providing heat, and ask what the average cost for heating your home has been.

The cost of heating your home will vary greatly across Canada, according to:

• The size of your home
• The type of fuel used
• The energy efficiency of your heating system and your home
• The length and harshness of the winter

Temperature Control

Canadian homes have thermostats to allow you to control the temperature in your home. The amount you or your landlord pays for heating will be determined by how warm you keep your house.

You can reduce your heating costs:

• By lowering the thermostat when you are not home and at night when you are sleeping;
• By keeping windows closed when the weather is cold;
• By turning off furnaces during the warm months of May through September; and
By putting weather stripping around doors and windows to keep out the cold air.

The cold temperature in Canada can cause water pipes to freeze and break. To prevent this, during the cold winter months the thermostat should be set no lower than 5°C or 10°C at all times.

Some Canadian cities can reach temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius in the summer. Canadians keep cool by using air conditioners or electric fans. New homes might have heat furnaces and air conditioners operated by the same thermostat