Best time to visit Nelson
The best time to visit Nelson is July–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Nelson, 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 | -3.5 °C / 26 °F | -9.5 °C / 15 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | neither best nor good |
| February | -1.9 °C / 29 °F | -8.8 °C / 16 °F | 71 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 3 °C / 37 °F | -4.7 °C / 24 °F | 100 mm / 3.9 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 7.7 °C / 46 °F | -1.7 °C / 29 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 14.5 °C / 58 °F | 2.9 °C / 37 °F | 86 mm / 3.4 in | good month |
| June | 17.9 °C / 64 °F | 6.7 °C / 44 °F | 93 mm / 3.6 in | good month |
| July | 23.7 °C / 75 °F | 10.2 °C / 50 °F | 39 mm / 1.5 in | best month |
| August | 23 °C / 73 °F | 9.9 °C / 50 °F | 40 mm / 1.6 in | best month |
| September | 17.5 °C / 64 °F | 6 °C / 43 °F | 53 mm / 2.1 in | best month |
| October | 8.5 °C / 47 °F | 0.3 °C / 33 °F | 88 mm / 3.5 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 0.8 °C / 33 °F | -4.5 °C / 24 °F | 123 mm / 4.9 in | neither best nor good |
| December | -3.7 °C / 25 °F | -8.9 °C / 16 °F | 100 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: neither
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- July–September
- Good
- May–June
Why these months
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 78%, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, average daily high 14.5 °C / 58 °F, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, relative humidity 64%.
Against: feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, wet days 14.2 days, average daily low 2.9 °C / 37 °F.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, average daily high 17.9 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 93 mm / 3.6 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, relative humidity 64%, average daily low 6.7 °C / 44 °F.
Against: wet days 14.1 days.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.7 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 7.1 days, average daily low 10.2 °C / 50 °F, relative humidity 53%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.5 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 40 mm / 1.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, relative humidity 54%, average daily low 9.9 °C / 50 °F.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.3 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, average daily high 17.5 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 9 days, relative humidity 63%, average daily low 6 °C / 43 °F.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
Why these months
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.5 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 15.4 h, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, average daily low 2.9 °C / 37 °F, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 14.2 days.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.9 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 93 mm / 3.6 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 6.7 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 16.2 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 14.1 days.
July · best
In its favour: precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, wet days 7.1 days, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 10.2 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 15.8 h, feels like (high) 22.7 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 40 mm / 1.6 in, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, feels like (high) 21.5 °C / 71 °F, average daily low 9.9 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 14.4 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.5 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 9 days, feels like (high) 15.3 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 6 °C / 43 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, daylight per day 12.6 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Skiing and snow
Wants cold and snowfall; sunshine barely matters.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–April
- Good
- October
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: snowfall 65 cm / 25.4 in, average daily high -3.5 °C / 26 °F, days with snow 20.3 days, average daily low -9.5 °C / 15 °F, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 8.7 h.
February · best
In its favour: snowfall 51 cm / 20.1 in, average daily high -1.9 °C / 29 °F, days with snow 18.8 days, average daily low -8.8 °C / 16 °F, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 10.2 h.
March · best
In its favour: snowfall 61 cm / 23.9 in, average daily high 3 °C / 37 °F, days with snow 20.8 days, average daily low -4.7 °C / 24 °F, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph, daylight per day 11.9 h.
April · best
In its favour: snowfall 33 cm / 13 in, days with snow 15.2 days, average daily low -1.7 °C / 29 °F, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph, daylight per day 13.8 h.
Against: average daily high 7.7 °C / 46 °F.
October · good
In its favour: snowfall 22 cm / 8.8 in, days with snow 10.3 days, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 10.7 h.
Against: average daily high 8.5 °C / 47 °F, average daily low 0.3 °C / 33 °F.
November · best
In its favour: snowfall 67 cm / 26.3 in, average daily high 0.8 °C / 33 °F, days with snow 20 days, average daily low -4.5 °C / 24 °F, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 9.1 h.
December · best
In its favour: snowfall 69 cm / 27 in, average daily high -3.7 °C / 25 °F, days with snow 21.3 days, average daily low -8.9 °C / 16 °F, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 8.2 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Whitewater Ski Resort, 10 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) | -6.9 °C | -5.5 °C | -0.5 °C | 4.6 °C | 12.4 °C | 16.4 °C | 22.7 °C | 21.5 °C | 15.3 °C | 5.7 °C | -2.4 °C | -7.2 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.5 days | 1.9 days | 2.4 days | 1.6 days | 2.7 days | 2.4 days | 1.2 days | 1.3 days | 1.1 days | 3.2 days | 4.1 days | 2.9 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 1 am | 12 am | 5 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 6 pm | 4 pm | 2 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 2 am |
| Sunshine per day | 4.7 h | 6.6 h | 8.1 h | 10.4 h | 12 h | 12.7 h | 14.4 h | 12.7 h | 10.2 h | 7.3 h | 4.8 h | 4.1 h |
| Relative humidity | 85% | 78% | 73% | 66% | 64% | 64% | 53% | 54% | 63% | 75% | 83% | 85% |
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 | 1.7 µg/m³ | 3.3 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 15.5 µg/m³ | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.5 µg/m³ | 2.2 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 3.3 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | 20.9 µg/m³ | 28.9 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 4.7 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.