Best time to visit Niagara Falls
The best time to visit Niagara Falls is May–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Niagara Falls, 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 °C / 32 °F | -5.4 °C / 22 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 0.2 °C / 32 °F | -5.8 °C / 22 °F | 70 mm / 2.7 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 5.1 °C / 41 °F | -1.6 °C / 29 °F | 78 mm / 3.1 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 11 °C / 52 °F | 4 °C / 39 °F | 100 mm / 3.9 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 17.9 °C / 64 °F | 10.7 °C / 51 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | best month |
| June | 22.8 °C / 73 °F | 16.1 °C / 61 °F | 98 mm / 3.9 in | best month |
| July | 25.6 °C / 78 °F | 19.2 °C / 67 °F | 104 mm / 4.1 in | best month |
| August | 24.8 °C / 77 °F | 18.4 °C / 65 °F | 83 mm / 3.3 in | best month |
| September | 21.5 °C / 71 °F | 14.8 °C / 59 °F | 78 mm / 3.1 in | best month |
| October | 15.1 °C / 59 °F | 8.9 °C / 48 °F | 101 mm / 4 in | good month |
| November | 8.5 °C / 47 °F | 2.9 °C / 37 °F | 70 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 3.2 °C / 38 °F | -1.5 °C / 29 °F | 87 mm / 3.4 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: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- October
Niagara Falls is best for outdoor sightseeing from May through September, especially September's mild, dry run, with April and October decent shoulder-season options; the cold, short, grey days from November through March make it a poor time for walking tours.
Why these months
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, average daily high 17.9 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 79 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, average daily low 10.7 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 70%.
Against: wet days 11.7 days.
Also on: Centennial Lilac Garden in bloom.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.3 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, average daily low 16.1 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, relative humidity 72%.
Against: wet days 11.9 days, precipitation 98 mm / 3.9 in.
Also on: Centennial Lilac Garden in bloom, Falls Fireworks (summer).
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.3 °C / 81 °F, average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, average daily low 19.2 °C / 67 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: wet days 12.4 days, precipitation 104 mm / 4.1 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%, time rain usually falls 11 am.
Also on: Falls Fireworks (summer).
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.1 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, precipitation 83 mm / 3.3 in, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, average daily low 18.4 °C / 65 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Against: wet days 11.6 days.
Also on: Falls Fireworks (summer).
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.4 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 21.5 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, wet days 9.6 days, average daily low 14.8 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 76%.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 64%, feels like (high) 12.6 °C / 55 °F, average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Against: wet days 13.7 days, precipitation 101 mm / 4 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: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–June, August–September
- Good
- April, July, October
May, June, August and September give the coolest, driest, longest days for hiking at Niagara, with April and October good but cooler, wetter shoulder months; July is held back a notch by heat and afternoon rain, while the frozen, short-daylight months from November through March are unsuitable for trekking.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 11 °C / 52 °F, average daily low 4 °C / 39 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, daylight per day 13.4 h, days with heavy rain 3.2 days, feels like (high) 7.9 °C / 46 °F, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 14 mph.
Against: wet days 13.1 days, precipitation 100 mm / 3.9 in.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.9 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 79 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 10.7 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, daylight per day 14.7 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 11.7 days.
Also on: Centennial Lilac Garden in bloom.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, daylight per day 15.3 h, feels like (high) 23.3 °C / 74 °F, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph, average daily low 16.1 °C / 61 °F.
Against: wet days 11.9 days, precipitation 98 mm / 3.9 in.
Also on: Centennial Lilac Garden in bloom, Falls Fireworks (summer).
July · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 84%, daylight per day 15 h, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 12.4 days, feels like (high) 27.3 °C / 81 °F, precipitation 104 mm / 4.1 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%, time rain usually falls 11 am, average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F, average daily low 19.2 °C / 67 °F.
Also on: Falls Fireworks (summer).
August · best
In its favour: precipitation 83 mm / 3.3 in, average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, daylight per day 13.9 h, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 11.6 days, average daily low 18.4 °C / 65 °F, feels like (high) 26.1 °C / 79 °F.
Also on: Falls Fireworks (summer).
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.5 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, wet days 9.6 days, feels like (high) 21.4 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, daylight per day 12.5 h, average daily low 14.8 °C / 59 °F, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
October · good
In its favour: average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, feels like (high) 12.6 °C / 55 °F, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 64%, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, daylight per day 11 h, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 14 mph.
Against: wet days 13.7 days, precipitation 101 mm / 4 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, 139 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 °C | -4.9 °C | 0.8 °C | 7.9 °C | 16.8 °C | 23.3 °C | 27.3 °C | 26.1 °C | 21.4 °C | 12.6 °C | 4.6 °C | -1.4 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2 days | 2 days | 3 days | 3.2 days | 2.2 days | 3.4 days | 3.1 days | 2.6 days | 2.4 days | 3.3 days | 1.9 days | 2.8 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 5 am | 9 am | 11 pm | 10 am | 2 am | 8 am | 11 am | 12 am | 8 am | 6 am | 10 pm | 5 am |
| Sunshine per day | 5.1 h | 6.5 h | 8.1 h | 9.3 h | 11.2 h | 12.2 h | 12.6 h | 11.5 h | 9.6 h | 7.1 h | 6 h | 4.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 76% | 74% | 70% | 69% | 70% | 72% | 74% | 75% | 76% | 75% | 73% | 77% |
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 | 6.3 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 15.3 µg/m³ | 20.9 µg/m³ | 15.9 µg/m³ | 12.9 µg/m³ | 10.4 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 11.3 µg/m³ | 13.7 µg/m³ | 14.9 µg/m³ | 19.2 µg/m³ | 25.3 µg/m³ | 33.8 µg/m³ | 25.2 µg/m³ | 20.4 µg/m³ | 16.2 µg/m³ | 12.1 µg/m³ | 11.7 µg/m³ | 10.7 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.
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
- Winter Festival of Lights
15 November–31 January
- Centennial Lilac Garden in bloom
1 May–15 June
- Falls Fireworks (summer)
June, July and August