Climate and Seasons

Central Nova Scotia is on the same latitude as Paris and Ottawa. Yet, thanks to the Atlantic Ocean’s gulf stream bringing warm water north from the Gulf of Mexico, we offer milder winters than you’d expect.

While parts of Atlantic Canada are known for fog, inland locations and Colchester’s Northumberland Shore have no greater fog frequency than Southern Ontario and Quebec.

Average daytime winter temperature: from -1 to +6 Celsius (30 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit)

Average summer daytime temperature: from 24 to 29 degrees Celsius (75 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit)

Summer nights are often cool enough for a light sweater. Central air conditioning a nice feature, but, with the exception of summer’s warmest weeks, is not a necessity.

Winter nights create the need for a wood stove or a gas or oil-burning furnace. Electrical heating is also quite common.

Winter snows can be enough to make us a skier’s dream come true, but don’t count on the snow to stick around all winter. Spring is the wettest time of year, with summers and autumn the driest seasons.