Best time to visit Montréal
The best time to visit Montréal is May and August–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Montréal, Quebec, 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 | -4.3 °C / 24 °F | -12.3 °C / 10 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | -3 °C / 27 °F | -11.8 °C / 11 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 3.3 °C / 38 °F | -5.6 °C / 22 °F | 77 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 11.7 °C / 53 °F | 1.9 °C / 35 °F | 109 mm / 4.3 in | good month |
| May | 19.7 °C / 67 °F | 8.9 °C / 48 °F | 98 mm / 3.9 in | best month |
| June | 23.9 °C / 75 °F | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 122 mm / 4.8 in | good month |
| July | 26.6 °C / 80 °F | 17 °C / 63 °F | 105 mm / 4.1 in | good month |
| August | 25.4 °C / 78 °F | 15.7 °C / 60 °F | 112 mm / 4.4 in | best month |
| September | 21.4 °C / 71 °F | 11.4 °C / 53 °F | 88 mm / 3.5 in | best month |
| October | 14 °C / 57 °F | 5.6 °C / 42 °F | 120 mm / 4.7 in | good month |
| November | 6 °C / 43 °F | -1.1 °C / 30 °F | 82 mm / 3.2 in | neither best nor good |
| December | -1.1 °C / 30 °F | -7.8 °C / 18 °F | 99 mm / 3.9 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: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May, August–September
- Good
- April, June–July, October
Montréal shines from May through September for exploring outdoors, with May, August and September standing out as best; frequent heavy summer downpours in June and July, and the year's rainiest month in October, keep those months merely good, while the cold, dark winter from November through March offers little for comfortable outdoor sightseeing.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 67%, relative humidity 64%.
Against: feels like (high) 7.9 °C / 46 °F, wet days 12.1 days, precipitation 109 mm / 4.3 in, days with heavy rain 4.2 days, average daily high 11.7 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 1.9 °C / 35 °F.
Also on: Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival, Maple syrup season (cabane à sucre), Siberian Squill blossom.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.9 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.7 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, relative humidity 64%, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F.
Against: wet days 12.2 days, precipitation 98 mm / 3.9 in.
Also on: Canadian Grand Prix, Eureka! Festival, Montréal Bike Fest, Montréal Museums Day.
Watch out for: Canadian Grand Prix crowds.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.9 °C / 75 °F, average daily high 23.9 °C / 75 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, average daily low 14.1 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 70%.
Against: wet days 13.8 days, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, days with heavy rain 4.3 days.
Also on: Canadian Grand Prix, Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Festival Mondiale de la bière, Francofolies, International Flora / Festival de jardins de Montréal, L'International des Feux Loto-Québec fireworks, Montréal Bike Fest, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Mural Festival, OSM Concerts in the Parks, Shakespeare-in-the-Park.
Watch out for: Canadian Grand Prix crowds, Jacques Cartier Bridge fireworks-night closure.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.9 °C / 82 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, average daily high 26.6 °C / 80 °F, average daily low 17 °C / 63 °F, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, relative humidity 73%.
Against: wet days 12.6 days, precipitation 105 mm / 4.1 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 46%.
Also on: Fantasia film festival, Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, International Flora / Festival de jardins de Montréal, Just For Laughs Festival, L'International des Feux Loto-Québec fireworks, Montreal International Jazz Festival, National Bank Open tennis, OSM Concerts in the Parks, Shakespeare-in-the-Park.
Watch out for: Jacques Cartier Bridge fireworks-night closure, Wasps in high summer.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.3 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 25.4 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, relative humidity 75%.
Against: wet days 12.4 days, precipitation 112 mm / 4.4 in.
Also on: Gardens of Light, Ile Soniq, International Flora / Festival de jardins de Montréal, National Bank Open tennis, Osheaga, Pocha MTL, Shakespeare-in-the-Park.
Watch out for: Wasps in high summer.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.9 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 21.4 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, wet days 9.2 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F.
Against: precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Autumn colours, Gardens of Light, International Flora / Festival de jardins de Montréal, POP Montréal International Music Festival, Presidents Cup golf.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 66%, average daily high 14 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 5.6 °C / 42 °F.
Against: precipitation 120 mm / 4.7 in, wet days 11.7 days, days with heavy rain 4 days, feels like (high) 11.4 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Autumn colours, Black and Blue circuit party, Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal, Gardens of Light.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Bromont Montagne d'Expérience, 77 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) | -9.2 °C | -8 °C | -1.3 °C | 7.9 °C | 17.9 °C | 23.9 °C | 27.9 °C | 26.3 °C | 20.9 °C | 11.4 °C | 2.2 °C | -5.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2 days | 1.9 days | 2.5 days | 4.2 days | 3.5 days | 4.3 days | 3.5 days | 3.4 days | 3 days | 4 days | 3 days | 3.3 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 10 am | 6 pm | 4 pm | 6 pm | 9 pm | 5 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 12 am | 8 am |
| Sunshine per day | 5.7 h | 6.9 h | 8.3 h | 9.1 h | 10.5 h | 11.1 h | 12.1 h | 11.4 h | 9.5 h | 7.2 h | 5.9 h | 4.8 h |
| Relative humidity | 77% | 74% | 68% | 64% | 64% | 70% | 73% | 75% | 78% | 77% | 77% | 80% |
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 | 9.4 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 10.8 µg/m³ | 17.9 µg/m³ | 15.3 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 8.3 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 16.8 µg/m³ | 21.5 µg/m³ | 20.8 µg/m³ | 18.2 µg/m³ | 19.6 µg/m³ | 30.1 µg/m³ | 24.9 µg/m³ | 21.1 µg/m³ | 20.1 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 12.9 µg/m³ | 17.4 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
- Igloofest
21 January–20 February
- Montréal en Lumière
February
- Nuit Blanche
February
- Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois
February
- Maple syrup season (cabane à sucre)
March and April
- Siberian Squill blossom
1–10 April
- Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival
21–30 April
- Montréal Museums Day
May, dates vary from year to year
- Eureka! Festival
May
- Canadian Grand Prix
22 May–7 June, dates vary from year to year
- Montréal Bike Fest
21 May–10 June
- Montreal International Jazz Festival
21 June–10 July
- Mural Festival
June
- L'International des Feux Loto-Québec fireworks
11 June–31 July
- Shakespeare-in-the-Park
June, July and August
- Festival Mondiale de la bière
June
- Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste
24 June
- Francofolies
11–20 June
- International Flora / Festival de jardins de Montréal
21 June–10 September
- OSM Concerts in the Parks
June and July
- Festival International Nuits d'Afrique
July
- Just For Laughs Festival
July
- Fantasia film festival
July
- National Bank Open tennis
1 July–10 August
- Pocha MTL
August
- Ile Soniq
August
- Osheaga
August
- Gardens of Light
30 August–31 October
- Autumn colours
21 September–10 November
- POP Montréal International Music Festival
September
- Presidents Cup golf
21–30 September
- Black and Blue circuit party
October, dates vary from year to year
- Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal
October
- Festival du Monde Arabe
November
- Image + Nation film festival
November and December
- Cinémania film festival
November
- Les Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal
November
- Village de Noël Christmas market
December
Worth knowing before you go
- Canadian Grand Prix crowds
22 May–7 June, dates vary from year to year
- Jacques Cartier Bridge fireworks-night closure
11 June–31 July
- Wasps in high summer
July and August