Manitobans enjoy all seasons

Because of our location in the centre of the North American continent, the climate of Manitoba has a wide range. Winters are cold. Summers are hot. We're called Sunny Manitoba because we're the province with the clearest skies year round.

Whatever the weather, Manitobans enjoy themselves during every season. To beat summer's heat most homes are air-conditioned. Winters are comfortable because all homes are well served with central heating.

The northern part of the province, including the city of Thompson, fall in the subarctic climate zone. This region features long and cold winters and brief, warm summers.

Southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, is in the humid continental climate zone. Winnipeg's famous intersection Portage and Main is known as the windiest corner in Canada.

Winnipeggers take pride in the "extremes" weather brings, just as we're proud of the beauty of our natural surroundings and the quality of our environment.

Winter

Winter in Manitoba usually lasts from November to February. Canadians sometimes refer jokingly to "Winterpeg."

Even in winter Winnipeggers enjoy the outdoors. We wear warm clothes - insulated jackets, hats, gloves and boots - and venture outside to enjoy sports and recreation activities in the snow.

Indeed Winnipeg set a world record for having the world's longest ice skating trail, on the Assiniboine and Red rivers, which freeze solid each winter. The winter event Festival du Voyageur attracts international visitors.

For many newcomers the snow and the cold may come as a surprise - especially for those who arrived on a summer's day when Winnipeg's heat seems tropical and everyone heads to the beach. But they soon find themselves adjusting to the climate and taking advantage of each season's charms.

Spring and fall

When spring arrives Winnipeggers can't wait till the city's many sidewalk restaurant patios open for business - even if the weather is still a little brisk. Fall is the time to enjoy the changing colours of the leaves on the trees. Year-round there's so many things to do.

Summer

Winnipeg's hottest months are July and August. The average temperature is 25C. Rain during this period accounts for half of our annual precipitation. Days are long and sunny, with up to 16 hours of sunshine in one summer day.

Summer is a great time to enjoy a walk in a park, some time at on a sunny beach, take advantage of plentiful public recreation facilities such as tennis courts, baseball diamonds and soccer fields, or relax in the yard or garden of your house.

Winnipeg annual climatic conditions

• The highest monthly average high temperature is 26 °C (79 °F) in July.
• The lowest monthly average low temperature is -22 °C (-8 °F) in January. Winnipeg, Manitoba's climate receives an average of 522 mm (20.6 in) of rainfall per year, or 44 mm (1.7 in) per month.
• On average there are 124 days per year with more than 0.1 mm (0.004 in) of rainfall (precipitation) or 10 days with a quantity of rain, sleet, snow etc. per month.
• The driest weather is in February when an average of 20 mm (0.8 in) of rainfall (precipitation) occurs across 10 days.
• The wettest weather is in June when an average of 86 mm (3.4 in) of rainfall (precipitation) occurrs across 13 days.
• The average annual relative humidity is 67.4% and average monthly relative humidity ranges from 48% in May to 85% in February & December.
• Average sunlight hours in Winnipeg, Manitoba range between 2.6 hours per day in November and 10.1 hours per day in July.
• There are an average of 2192 hours of sunlight per year with an average of 6.0 hours of sunlight per day.