Vancouver in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Vancouver sees average daytime highs around 46°F and overnight lows near 36°F, with 23.3 in of precipitation over about 52 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 46°F in early December to 50°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Vancouver's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Vancouver's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 46°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 36°F
- Precipitation
- 23.3 in
- 52 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 mph
- Travel score
- 1.1
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Vancouver in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 46°F in early December to 50°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Vancouver reaches about 46°F and drops to 36°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How winter really feels in Vancouver
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 50 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Vancouver weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45° / 36° | 8.2 | 18.3 | 3.2 | 8.9 | 0.9 |
| Feb | 49° / 37° | 6.0 | 15.2 | 2.6 | 10.1 | 1.7 |
| Mar | 54° / 39° | 7.0 | 18.3 | 1.9 | 11.6 | 2.5 |
| Apr | 59° / 42° | 5.6 | 16.6 | 0.3 | 13.3 | 3.7 |
| May | 66° / 47° | 3.5 | 12 | 0 | 14.7 | 5.7 |
| Jun | 71° / 51° | 2.4 | 8.8 | 0 | 15.4 | 6.7 |
| Jul | 78° / 55° | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0 | 15.1 | 8.2 |
| Aug | 79° / 56° | 0.8 | 3.3 | 0 | 13.9 | 8.1 |
| Sep | 73° / 52° | 2.5 | 6.8 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.5 |
| Oct | 61° / 45° | 5.6 | 13.3 | 0 | 10.7 | 4.8 |
| Nov | 50° / 39° | 8.9 | 18.2 | 0.9 | 9.3 | 1.9 |
| Dec | 44° / 35° | 9.1 | 18.4 | 3.3 | 8.6 | 0.7 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Vancouver gets around 23.3 in of rain and snow over 52 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 5 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 8 h 48 min in early December to 10 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 1.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Vancouver
In winter, Vancouver overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Vancouver's rainy season runs October–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Vancouver?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Vancouver.
What to pack for Vancouver in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Vancouver sees daytime highs around 46°F and nights near 36°F. Pack a warm layer and rain gear. Worth having: a heavy coat. About 52 days see rain.
UV index in Vancouver in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Vancouver peaks around July 17 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Very high | High | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Low |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | Moderate |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | High |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | High |
| Sep | 4 | Moderate |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 1 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Vancouver in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Vancouver is worst in September — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.0× the cleanest month (January, 7 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 22 | 14 | 9 | 7 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 10 | Good |
| Jun | 9 | Good |
| Jul | 8 | Good |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 22 | Moderate |
| Oct | 14 | Moderate |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 7 | Good |
Where is Vancouver?
Vancouver sits at 45.6°N, 122.7°W, 171 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Hazel Dell, 2.5 mi away.
Topography around Vancouver
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Vancouver.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Vancouver has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 338 ft around an average of 125 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,306 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 10,971 ft.
The land around Vancouver is covered by artificial surfaces (40%) and trees (39%) within 2 miles, trees (44%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 10 miles, and trees (79%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Vancouver (45.6387°, -122.6615°, elevation 171 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.