Best time to visit Nanaimo
The best time to visit Nanaimo is June–August, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Nanaimo, British Columbia, 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 | 5.7 °C / 42 °F | 3.5 °C / 38 °F | 250 mm / 9.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 5.6 °C / 42 °F | 3.1 °C / 38 °F | 142 mm / 5.6 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 7.4 °C / 45 °F | 4.4 °C / 40 °F | 179 mm / 7 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 10 °C / 50 °F | 6.4 °C / 44 °F | 116 mm / 4.6 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 14.2 °C / 58 °F | 10.1 °C / 50 °F | 76 mm / 3 in | good month |
| June | 16.8 °C / 62 °F | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | best month |
| July | 20.2 °C / 68 °F | 15.7 °C / 60 °F | 33 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| August | 20.2 °C / 68 °F | 16 °C / 61 °F | 42 mm / 1.7 in | best month |
| September | 16.8 °C / 62 °F | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 105 mm / 4.1 in | good month |
| October | 11.8 °C / 53 °F | 9 °C / 48 °F | 184 mm / 7.3 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 7.8 °C / 46 °F | 5.4 °C / 42 °F | 273 mm / 10.8 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 5.3 °C / 42 °F | 3.2 °C / 38 °F | 242 mm / 9.5 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: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–August
- Good
- May, September
Why these months
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 77%, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 14.2 °C / 58 °F, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, average daily low 10.1 °C / 50 °F, wet days 11.7 days, relative humidity 74%.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, wet days 9.8 days, average daily low 12.8 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 74%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.8 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, wet days 5.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F, relative humidity 73%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.7 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 42 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wet days 5.8 days, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 16 °C / 61 °F, relative humidity 75%.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.2 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 105 mm / 4.1 in, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, wet days 10.4 days, days with heavy rain 3.8 days.
Against: relative humidity 79%.
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: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- April
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 10 °C / 50 °F, precipitation 116 mm / 4.6 in, average daily low 6.4 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, daylight per day 13.8 h, feels like (high) 7.5 °C / 46 °F, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 14.4 days, days with heavy rain 4 days.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.2 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 10.1 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, daylight per day 15.3 h, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wet days 11.7 days, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 12.8 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 16.2 h, wet days 9.8 days, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, wet days 5.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, feels like (high) 20.8 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 15.7 h, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 8 mph.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, precipitation 42 mm / 1.7 in, wet days 5.8 days, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, feels like (high) 20.7 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 14.3 h, average daily low 16 °C / 61 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 105 mm / 4.1 in, feels like (high) 16.2 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, daylight per day 12.6 h, wet days 10.4 days, days with heavy rain 3.8 days, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 10 mph.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Cypress Mountain, 58 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) | 2.5 °C | 2.4 °C | 4.3 °C | 7.5 °C | 13.1 °C | 16.4 °C | 20.8 °C | 20.7 °C | 16.2 °C | 9.9 °C | 4.8 °C | 2.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 9.3 days | 5.2 days | 7.3 days | 4 days | 2.6 days | 2.1 days | 0.9 days | 1.4 days | 3.8 days | 6.8 days | 10.2 days | 8.7 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 9 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 12 pm | 12 pm | 3 pm | 8 pm | 1 am |
| Sunshine per day | 4.1 h | 5.8 h | 7.3 h | 9.7 h | 11.8 h | 12.8 h | 13.7 h | 12.6 h | 10 h | 6.8 h | 4.3 h | 3.7 h |
| Relative humidity | 83% | 79% | 79% | 75% | 74% | 74% | 73% | 75% | 79% | 82% | 83% | 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 | 5.6 µg/m³ | 6.6 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 8.3 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 8.4 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 13.3 µg/m³ | 5.6 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 9.6 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ | 12.2 µg/m³ | 13.9 µg/m³ | 18.1 µg/m³ | 14.1 µg/m³ | 19.4 µg/m³ | 14.3 µg/m³ | 16.4 µg/m³ | 31 µg/m³ | 9.6 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.