Best time to visit Hamilton
The best time to visit Hamilton is June and August–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Hamilton, Ontario, 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 | -0.2 °C / 32 °F | -6.2 °C / 21 °F | 70 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 0.1 °C / 32 °F | -6.7 °C / 20 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 5.1 °C / 41 °F | -2.3 °C / 28 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 10.8 °C / 51 °F | 3 °C / 37 °F | 97 mm / 3.8 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 17.4 °C / 63 °F | 9.2 °C / 49 °F | 78 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
| June | 22.6 °C / 73 °F | 15 °C / 59 °F | 88 mm / 3.4 in | best month |
| July | 26 °C / 79 °F | 18.3 °C / 65 °F | 84 mm / 3.3 in | good month |
| August | 25.2 °C / 77 °F | 17.8 °C / 64 °F | 68 mm / 2.7 in | best month |
| September | 21.7 °C / 71 °F | 14.3 °C / 58 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | best month |
| October | 15.1 °C / 59 °F | 8.4 °C / 47 °F | 88 mm / 3.5 in | good month |
| November | 8.1 °C / 47 °F | 2.1 °C / 36 °F | 66 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 2.8 °C / 37 °F | -2.3 °C / 28 °F | 80 mm / 3.2 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: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June, August–September
- Good
- May, July, October
Hamilton rewards exploring outdoors from late spring through early autumn, with June, August and September the standout warm, sunny, comfortable months; July is nearly as good but afternoon-heavy summer showers cost it a notch, and the cold, dim months from November to April are unrewarding for walking outside.
Why these months
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.2 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, average daily high 17.4 °C / 63 °F, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, average daily low 9.2 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: wet days 10.4 days, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, average daily low 15 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 71%.
Against: wet days 11.3 days, precipitation 88 mm / 3.4 in.
Also on: Battle of Stoney Creek military re-enactment, Canadian International Military Tattoo.
Watch out for: Beach closures from E. coli during swimming season.
July · good
In its favour: average daily high 26 °C / 79 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, average daily low 18.3 °C / 65 °F.
Against: wet days 10.6 days, precipitation 84 mm / 3.3 in, feels like (high) 27.8 °C / 82 °F, relative humidity 71%, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%.
Watch out for: Beach closures from E. coli during swimming season.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.5 °C / 80 °F, average daily high 25.2 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, average daily low 17.8 °C / 64 °F.
Against: wet days 8.8 days, relative humidity 73%, precipitation 68 mm / 2.7 in.
Watch out for: Beach closures from E. coli during swimming season.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.5 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 21.7 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F.
Against: relative humidity 75%, wet days 9.2 days, precipitation 72 mm / 2.8 in.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 65%, average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 8.4 °C / 47 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: feels like (high) 12.6 °C / 55 °F, wet days 11.9 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, sunshine per day 7.1 h.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–June, September
- Good
- April, July–August, October
For hiking, the cool, dry, long-day months of May, June and September are best; April, July, August and October are good but held back by a chilly start, summer humidity or heavier rain, while the frozen, short-day months from November to March are unsuitable for trekking.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 10.8 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, daylight per day 13.4 h, average daily low 3 °C / 37 °F, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 11.7 days, days with heavy rain 3.2 days, precipitation 97 mm / 3.8 in, feels like (high) 7.7 °C / 46 °F.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.4 °C / 63 °F, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, feels like (high) 16.2 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 9.2 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, daylight per day 14.7 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 10.4 days, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, daylight per day 15.3 h, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, average daily low 15 °C / 59 °F, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 11.3 days, precipitation 88 mm / 3.4 in.
Also on: Battle of Stoney Creek military re-enactment, Canadian International Military Tattoo.
Watch out for: Beach closures from E. coli during swimming season.
July · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, daylight per day 15 h, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: feels like (high) 27.8 °C / 82 °F, wet days 10.6 days, precipitation 84 mm / 3.3 in, relative humidity 71%, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%, average daily high 26 °C / 79 °F, average daily low 18.3 °C / 65 °F.
Watch out for: Beach closures from E. coli during swimming season.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 25.2 °C / 77 °F, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, daylight per day 13.9 h, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: feels like (high) 26.5 °C / 80 °F, wet days 8.8 days, precipitation 68 mm / 2.7 in, relative humidity 73%, average daily low 17.8 °C / 64 °F.
Watch out for: Beach closures from E. coli during swimming season.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.7 °C / 71 °F, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, feels like (high) 21.5 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 12.5 h, average daily low 14.3 °C / 58 °F, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 9.2 days, precipitation 72 mm / 2.8 in, relative humidity 75%.
October · good
In its favour: average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, feels like (high) 12.6 °C / 55 °F, average daily low 8.4 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, daylight per day 11 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 11.9 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, sunshine per day 7.1 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, 205 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) | -5.1 °C | -4.9 °C | 0.8 °C | 7.7 °C | 16.2 °C | 23.2 °C | 27.8 °C | 26.5 °C | 21.5 °C | 12.6 °C | 4.2 °C | -1.7 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.2 days | 2.1 days | 2.5 days | 3.2 days | 2.2 days | 2.5 days | 2.9 days | 2.2 days | 2.2 days | 3 days | 1.8 days | 2.6 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 am | 9 am | 8 am | 11 am | 6 pm | 6 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 8 am | 6 am | 9 pm | 5 am |
| Sunshine per day | 5.4 h | 6.8 h | 8.2 h | 9.4 h | 11.2 h | 12.4 h | 12.7 h | 11.5 h | 9.7 h | 7.1 h | 6.1 h | 4.5 h |
| Relative humidity | 75% | 73% | 69% | 68% | 69% | 71% | 71% | 73% | 75% | 74% | 74% | 76% |
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 | 6.2 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 10.9 µg/m³ | 15.2 µg/m³ | 20.2 µg/m³ | 15.4 µg/m³ | 13 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 6.6 µg/m³ | 6.6 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 11 µg/m³ | 14.4 µg/m³ | 15 µg/m³ | 17.9 µg/m³ | 24.6 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | 25.4 µg/m³ | 20.8 µg/m³ | 17.6 µg/m³ | 12.2 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 11.1 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.
Reasons to go
- Battle of Stoney Creek military re-enactment
June
- Canadian International Military Tattoo
June
Worth knowing before you go
- Beach closures from E. coli during swimming season
June, July and August