About British Columbia

Set between the province of Alberta and the Pacific
Ocean, British Columbia is a land blessed with
amazing diversity and a temperate climate. There
is an equally amazing variety of places to see and
things to do across the province. Mountains to gaze
at or climb. History and art to discover. Endless
beaches to comb. Cosmopolitan cities to explore.
Moss-carpeted rainforests to hike. Sensual spas
and tantalizing gastronomic delights to indulge in.
Warm-water lakes to play in. Rivers to ride. And
so much more.
Click here for a detailed map of BC (PDF).

Climate & Weather

Climate in British Columbia is a variable thing influenced by latitude, mountainous topography and the Pacific Ocean. This diversity
causes wide variations in average rainfall, snowfall, temperature
and hours of sunshine, sometimes over very short distances.
In general, however, temperatures are warmer in the south than
in the north, and rainfall is heaviest along the coast and lightest
in the southern interior.

Spring & Fall
Spring and fall can often be very warm and pleasant, especially
in June and September. Daytime temperatures -particularly in
southwestern BC and the southern interior- allow for dresses,
shorts and short-sleeved shirts; however, it is advisable to have
sweaters, trousers and a light coat or jacket on hand as well.

Summer
Summers are hottest in BC's interior, particularly in the south
where temperatures frequently surpass 30°C (86°F). Nearer
the coast, temperatures range from 22 to 28°C (72 to 83°F).
Recommended clothing for both regions in summer is the same:
shorts, short-sleeved shirts and light dresses in daytime and
sweaters and trousers in the evenings.

Winter
Winters on the coast are temperate, and if snow falls it
doesn't stay long. A warm coat and umbrella are sufficient
weather protection in these mild coastal climes. Most of BC's
interior, on the other hand, experiences freezing temperatures
and lasting snow from November to March, so full winter
wear is necessary for comfort: a heavy coat, a warm hat
and gloves or mittens.

Climatic Zones
Coast Mountains & the Islands: Generally an area of
heavy precipitation. Apart from a wet regime, mild tempera-
tures and long frost-free periods are the rule.

The windward outer coast of Vancouver Island -including
Tofino- receives the greatest amount of annual rainfall. The
Georgia Basin -which includes the east coast of Vancouver
Island, the Gulf Islands, Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast-
lies in the rainshadow of Vancouver Island. This more
protected region has considerably less precipitation and a
greater quantity of sunshine. For example, Vancouver's
average maximum temperature is 6°C (43°F) in January
and 22°C (72°F) in July, and its annual rainfall is less than
half of Tofino's. Autumn and winter still tend to have heavy
precipitation.

The north coast -including Prince Rupert- typically receives
greater annual precipitation than the Georgia Basin and
cooler temperatures due to its higher latitude.

Higher elevations in the Coast Mountains get heavy snowfall
in the winter.

The Interior Plateau: Because the Coast Mountains act as
a barrier to the moist westerly air flow, the Interior Plateau
-immediately to the east of this mountain chain- has a much
drier and more continental climate. Summers tend to be
warm and dry; winters cooler, but less moist. The southern
interior, including the Okanagan, Similkameen, and Thompson
River Valleys, experiences BC's hottest summers, with
temperatures often in the 30s celsius (86-102°F), and
occasionally rising above 40°C (104°F). Kamloops, for
example, has an average maximum of -1°C (30°F) in January
and 28°C (82°F) in July, and just 279 mm (11 in) of annual
precipitation. Areas further north on the Interior Plateau
(Williams Lake and Prince George areas) tend to have
a moist, cooler regime than that of the southern portions
of the plateau.

Columbia Mountains & Southern Rockies: This region is
in the southeast portion of the province and has marked
contrasts in climate. The valley bottom localities are semi-
arid with warm summers and cold winters, like those found
in the Grand Forks or Cranbrook areas. Cranbrook has an
average maximum of -3°C (27°F) in January and 26°C (79°F)
in July, with 383 mm (15 in) of annual precipitation.
Upslope, and on the windward slopes of the Monashee,
Selkirk, Purcell and Rocky Mountains, much higher
precipitation and cooler temperatures are evident
(e.g. the Revelstoke area).

Northern and Central Plateaux & Mountains: (including
Dease Lake, Smithers and Mackenzie). This interior region
in northwestern BC has much colder winters and cooler
summers. The winters are generally colder and drier the
further north one travels. Summers are short and fairly
cool, though the long days partially compensate for these
conditions. Precipitation, though quite light, is distributed
evenly throughout the year. In Dease Lake, for example,
the average maximum temperature in January is -13°C
(9°F) and in July is 19°C (66°F).

The Great Plains: To the east of the northern Rocky
Mountains, in the northeastern portion of BC (e.g. Fort
St. John and Dawson Creek area), lies an extension of
the Great Plains so evident in the provinces of Alberta,
Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This area experiences long,
cold winters and short, warm summers, with a relatively
high number of sunshine hours, a wide range in seasonal
temperatures and a precipitation maximum during the
summer months. Dawson Creek, for example, has an
average maximum of -9°C (16°F) in January and
22°C (72°F) in July.