^{Sep 23, 2022}
Vancouver’s climate, is it really all that rainy?

You’re thinking about basing yourself in Vancouver — or perhaps you’ve recently made the move — and you want to make sure you’ve picked the right spot. It’s natural and it’s understandable, but everyone seems to love to tell you a horror story about Vancouver’s rainy weather. Know the feeling? Keep reading.

The truth is that everyone likes to exaggerate a little, or tell you a story with a subtle wry smile on their face. If you’re someone who wants to know you’ve made the right choice, this can be a little unnerving to say the least. The problem is that the more follow-up questions you probe them with, the more likely they are to try to convince you that there’s barely going to be a break in the rain. Luckily for you, we’ve taken a more scientific approach to the weather and put together everything you’ll ever need to know. All you have to do now is find 5 minutes in your day to have a nice relaxing read and you’ll be up to speed in no time at all. Hope it helps! 

How do the seasons change in Vancouver?

Let’s keep this as simple as possible by breaking it up into summer, winter, spring and fall. That way you can get a crystal clear picture of what it’s like to live in Vancouver right throughout the year. 

• Winter (Jan – March): The beauty of Vancouver is that down in the city you’re going to experience mild weather all year round. This means that you’ll be able to go about your business with minimal disruption, provided you’re not treated to an unexpected downpour. Mostly you’ll get mild winters, some rain showers and a gentle breeze. And for those looking to get outdoors and onto the white stuff, head into the mountains where you’re guaranteed fresh powder for skiing and snowboarding.

• Spring (April – June): The winter snow will stay put up in the mountains, whereas the sunshine well and truly takes over lower down where the golf courses and parks are. There’s more sunny breaks in the clouds, the public gardens really start to come to life, and so many of the main attractions begin to open up again. Spring really is the season where family entertainment pops back into life. 

• Summer (July – Sep): Thanks to its famous mild climate, summer days in Vancouver are comfortable and warm rather than stifling and uncomfortable. This is ideal when you want to go on a trek now the snow has cleared from the hills, or when you want to head into the city and enjoy the many attractions and festivals the locals flock to. No matter what you choose, you’ll get mostly blue skies and a comfortable glow. 

• Fall (Oct – Dec): Snow begins to return to the mountains but is rarely seen in the city. You will get rain showers punctuating the previous blue skies, but it doesn’t usually write off a weekend day out. Ideal when you want to make sure you’re moving somewhere that’s always fun and enjoyable, no matter what time of year. 

Now that we’ve covered the four seasons, it’s time to give a little more thought to where you might want to base yourself in and around Vancouver.

Weather across the Vancouver area

Good question! While predicting the weather is never an exact science, you can quickly and easily establish some common trends if you know where to look. Luckily for you, we know exactly where the secret insights only the locals know are hidden, so here they are for you to read at your leisure: 

• Downtown Vancouver and South Vancouver has more rain than other parts of the city, but it’s not all doom and gloom. The good news is that you will rarely see any snow on the streets, meaning you can still get to work or the shops without any disruption while the mountains are covered in snow. The rain showers are also mild / light, which helps the area remain green and vibrant.

• North Vancouver and the Mountains are where you want to go to get more snow if that’s what you’re after. What a lot of people love to do is base themselves down the slope so they’re in and around the city, and then head up into the mountains to ski and snowboard on the weekend. That’s the great thing about living in a city that essentially has two different climates!

The only caveat on this is that in the unlikely event snow hits the city and settles, it will cause some disruption to your travel. If in doubt, get ready with a set of snow tires you can keep in the garage for the winter season. 

Want another tip? Because the weather is rather mild all year round, you don’t really have to take it into consideration when you’re picking a moving time — provided you’re not planning to move into the mountains in the peak of winter. Most people looking to save money and move at their own pace opt for Sep-April if they’re moving into the city because there’s a lower demand for movers and the rates are a little lower as a result. 

Now you know everything about Vancouver’s climate, let’s ask the key question that many of you might be googling.

Does Vancouver have better weather than Toronto?

Told you we’d guess exactly what was on your mind! A quick glance at the peak summer sunshine in Toronto will make you think that it’s the better city to base yourself in, but that’s only half the story. 

Because of its location, Toronto is subject to much larger temperature fluctuations than Vancouver, and this is something that continues uninterrupted right throughout the year. Yes, the summer temperatures are going to be consistently around 35C in Toronto, but this comes with a high level of humidity many find rather tiring and stifling. Winter temperatures also dip far lower and regularly touch -30C, making Toronto far more unpredictable throughout the year. 

Still not sure about which city offers the right weather for you? Here’s a little fact that will sway you in our direction: Vancouver gets more hours of sunshine during the summer, and it does it all with a cooling breeze that allows you to spend more time outdoors. 

Final thoughts

Now we’ve covered all the basics and dived right into the details, it’s over to you to make your final decision. If it were us, we really wouldn’t worry at all about the rain when you’re talking about a city that has so much more to offer than clear skies. Vancouver is a place that is welcoming, safe, open, green and so many other things that you’ll be settled and truly feel like you’re home before you know it. Ideal when you want to live your life in a friendly city that has something to offer everyone, no matter what the weather happens to be doing! If you are looking for a furnished housing in Vancouver, don’t hesitate to contact us.