If you’re checking your phone and asking what's the weather in Vancouver Canada right now, you might see a little cloud icon with rain droplets. Honestly, that’s the default setting for about six months of the year. But here is the thing: the "Rain City" reputation is only half the story. Vancouver is a place where you can be shivering in a damp fog at 9:00 AM and then frantically peeling off your Gore-Tex layers by noon because the sun decided to make a guest appearance.
The city doesn't really do "extreme" in the way Toronto or Montreal do. We don't get the skin-cracking -30°C winters, and we rarely get the swampy, humid heatwaves of the East Coast. Instead, we live in a perpetual state of "milder than the rest of Canada." It’s a temperate oceanic climate, which basically means it’s moody, lush, and unpredictable.
Understanding what's the weather in Vancouver Canada really feels like
Right now, in mid-January 2026, we are sitting in the heart of the "Big Wet." If you're looking at the current forecast, you’ll see daytime highs hovering around 6°C to 8°C. It’s not freezing, but the dampness has a way of sinking into your bones. It’s a "wet cold."
The local's secret? We don't use umbrellas as much as you’d think. The wind off the Burrard Inlet just flips them inside out anyway. Most of us just invest in a very expensive, very waterproof shell and call it a day.
The seasonal breakdown of the 604
People think it rains all the time. It doesn't.
July and August are spectacularly dry. In fact, Vancouver often faces drought restrictions in late summer because it stops raining entirely for weeks. You get these crisp, 22°C to 25°C days where the air smells like salt water and evergreen needles. It is, without hyperbole, one of the most beautiful places on Earth during that window.
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Then comes November.
November is the wettest month, averaging about 180mm to 200mm of rain. This isn't a tropical thunderstorm that clears up in an hour; it’s a grey ceiling of clouds that hangs over the North Shore mountains and just... leaks. For days. If you're visiting then, bring waterproof shoes. Soggy socks are the fastest way to ruin a trip to Granville Island.
Why the mountains change everything
You can't talk about Vancouver weather without talking about the "Lions"—those iconic peaks guarding the North Shore.
Vancouver is a city of microclimates. It might be a light drizzle in Richmond (near the airport), but by the time you drive 20 minutes north to Capilano or Grouse Mountain, it's a full-on torrential downpour or a snowstorm.
- Richmond and Delta: Generally the sunniest and driest because they’re furthest from the mountain slopes.
- The North Shore: Gets significantly more rain because the clouds get "stuck" against the mountains and dump their moisture.
- Burnaby and Coquitlam: Often see snow when the downtown core is just seeing slushy rain.
Elevation is the king here. While downtown stays at a balmy 4°C, the ski hills (Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour) can be buried in three meters of powder. It’s the only place where you can literally golf in the morning and night-ski in the evening during March.
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The "Juneuary" Phenomenon
There’s a specific quirk we call Juneuary.
Visitors often book trips in June expecting summer. They get a rude awakening. While the rest of the continent is heating up, Vancouver often stays trapped in a cool, cloudy pattern through the first three weeks of June. Don't pack just shorts. You’ll end up buying a "Vancouver" hoodie at a tourist shop on Robson Street just to stay warm.
Snow: The city's kryptonite
When people ask what's the weather in Vancouver Canada during winter, they usually want to know about snow.
We get very little compared to the rest of Canada—roughly 38cm to 45cm a year on average. But when 2cm falls? The city loses its mind. Because our temperatures hover right around the freezing mark (0°C), the snow is usually heavy, wet "heart-attack" snow. It turns into a layer of ice almost immediately.
Since most people don't swap to winter tires, the hills in New Westminster and West Vancouver become literal ice rinks. If you see snow in the forecast for your trip, expect transit delays. It’s just the way it is.
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Packing for the reality of the Pacific Northwest
If you want to survive and thrive here, stop looking at the temperature and start looking at the "Probability of Precipitation."
- Layers are non-negotiable. A base layer, a fleece or light puffer, and a waterproof shell.
- Waterproof footwear. Not "water-resistant." Waterproof.
- The "Vancity" look. It’s okay to wear hiking gear to a nice dinner. In fact, it’s almost the local uniform.
Honestly, the weather is what makes the city so green. Without that relentless winter rain, we wouldn't have the mossy, emerald-green depths of Stanley Park or the towering Douglas firs that define the landscape. You just have to learn to embrace the grey.
If you are planning a trip soon, check the Environment Canada radar rather than the generic apps. It’s much more accurate for those narrow windows of sunshine that happen between the clouds.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the North Shore mountain cams: If it's grey downtown, it might be beautiful and sunny above the clouds on Cypress Mountain.
- Download the "WeatherCAN" app: It's the official government source and handles the microclimates of the Lower Mainland better than third-party apps.
- Book for late July: If you want a 100% guarantee of "beach weather," the last two weeks of July are your safest bet.