Vancouver Island Climate
Vancouver Island's climate is typified by
warm, dry summers and the mild, wet winters. Freezing day time
temperatures are fairly rare at sea level, although there is enough
overnight frost to warrant moving your tropical plants indoors for the
winter. Along with the south coast of BC's mainland, the region enjoys
a climate that is milder by far than the rest of Canada.
Regional Variations
Regional temperature variation is not
extreme, but the south island and southern Gulf Islands do have average
temperatures a few degrees warmer than the northern part of Vancouver
Island.
Variation in rainfall is considerable,
however. Precipitation on the west coast is very high, earning the area
the distinction of being classified as "temperate rainforest". Victoria
and the southern Gulf Islands, on the other hand, enjoy a "rain shadow"
effect, and have very moderate rainfall and many more hours of
sunshine. Falling between these extremes are the island's east coast
and northern tip, with the east coast being closer to the climate of
the south, and the northern tip more nearly approaching conditions on
the west coast.
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Vancouver
Island
average air temperature by month.
Regional variations exist, but are not
extreme, with greatest variation being in winter temperatures by
elevation.
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Vancouver
Island
average chance of rainfall by month.
N.B.: There is considerable regional variation
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Vancouver
Island
average hours of sunlight by month.
N.B.: There is considerable regional variation
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Vancouver
Island
average surface water temperature by month. |
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