Best time to visit Banff
Month-by-month weather averages for Banff.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -9 °C / 16 °F | -16.2 °C / 3 °F | 22 mm / 0.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | -8.5 °C / 17 °F | -17 °C / 1 °F | 25 mm / 1 in | neither best nor good |
| March | -3 °C / 27 °F | -12.2 °C / 10 °F | 38 mm / 1.5 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 1.7 °C / 35 °F | -8 °C / 18 °F | 58 mm / 2.3 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 7.6 °C / 46 °F | -3 °C / 27 °F | 75 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 1.3 °C / 34 °F | 119 mm / 4.7 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 17.9 °C / 64 °F | 4.9 °C / 41 °F | 92 mm / 3.6 in | good month |
| August | 17.3 °C / 63 °F | 4.1 °C / 39 °F | 80 mm / 3.2 in | good month |
| September | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 0.2 °C / 32 °F | 58 mm / 2.3 in | good month |
| October | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | -6.8 °C / 20 °F | 40 mm / 1.6 in | neither best nor good |
| November | -5.1 °C / 23 °F | -13.6 °C / 8 °F | 39 mm / 1.5 in | neither best nor good |
| December | -10.7 °C / 13 °F | -17.8 °C / 0 °F | 30 mm / 1.2 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Good
- July–September
Banff's winters are far too cold and dark for comfortable sightseeing, and even the peak season is capped at good: June brings the year's heaviest rain and July-August's warmth is undercut by afternoon downpours; drier, cooler September is the best of the bunch.
Why these months
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.3 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, average daily high 17.9 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 92 mm / 3.6 in, relative humidity 67%, average daily low 4.9 °C / 41 °F.
Against: wet days 15.4 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 57%.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.1 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, average daily high 17.3 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in, relative humidity 68%, average daily low 4.1 °C / 39 °F.
Against: wet days 13.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 56%.
September · good
In its favour: precipitation 58 mm / 2.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, relative humidity 72%.
Against: feels like (high) 9.4 °C / 49 °F, wet days 9.8 days, average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 0.2 °C / 32 °F.
Watch out for: Aggressive bull elk during the rut.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- September
- Good
- May–August
Trails are only realistically walkable from May through September; cool, dry September with still-long days is the standout month, July-August's warmth is undercut by afternoon storms, and the rest of the year is too cold and dark for hiking.
Why these months
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 75 mm / 3 in, average daily high 7.6 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, daylight per day 15.6 h, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph.
Against: wet days 12.4 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, average daily low -3 °C / 27 °F, feels like (high) 5 °C / 41 °F.
Watch out for: Fenland Trail closed for elk calving.
June · good
In its favour: average daily high 12.8 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, daylight per day 16.5 h, feels like (high) 10.7 °C / 51 °F, average daily low 1.3 °C / 34 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: wet days 17.6 days, precipitation 119 mm / 4.7 in, days with heavy rain 3.5 days.
July · good
In its favour: average daily high 17.9 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 92 mm / 3.6 in, feels like (high) 16.3 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 4.9 °C / 41 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 16 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: wet days 15.4 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 57%.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 17.3 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in, feels like (high) 15.1 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 4.1 °C / 39 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, daylight per day 14.5 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: wet days 13.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 56%.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F, precipitation 58 mm / 2.3 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, daylight per day 12.6 h, feels like (high) 9.4 °C / 49 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, average daily low 0.2 °C / 32 °F.
Against: wet days 9.8 days.
Watch out for: Aggressive bull elk during the rut.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Mount Norquay, 4 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -13.5 °C | -12.9 °C | -7.1 °C | -1.8 °C | 5 °C | 10.7 °C | 16.3 °C | 15.1 °C | 9.4 °C | 0 °C | -9.4 °C | -15.3 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 0.1 days | 0.2 days | 0.2 days | 1.4 days | 2 days | 3.5 days | 2.5 days | 2.5 days | 1.6 days | 0.8 days | 0.9 days | 0.5 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 1 am | 8 am | 6 pm | 6 pm | 6 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 6 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 6.5 h | 8.2 h | 9.9 h | 11.2 h | 12.5 h | 13.2 h | 14.1 h | 12.5 h | 10.7 h | 8.7 h | 6.6 h | 5.7 h |
| Relative humidity | 81% | 78% | 75% | 71% | 72% | 72% | 67% | 68% | 72% | 78% | 85% | 82% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 1.2 µg/m³ | 2.3 µg/m³ | 3.5 µg/m³ | 5.8 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | 3.4 µg/m³ | 2.1 µg/m³ | 1.7 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 2.4 µg/m³ | 4.2 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 15.1 µg/m³ | 15.1 µg/m³ | 18.1 µg/m³ | 16.3 µg/m³ | 14.4 µg/m³ | 6.6 µg/m³ | 4.5 µg/m³ | 3.3 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Worth knowing before you go
- Fenland Trail closed for elk calving
March, April and May
- Aggressive bull elk during the rut
September, October and November