Victoria, British Columbia

:This article refers to the city of Victoria. Information on Greater Victoria can be found in the Greater Victoria article.

Climate

Victoria's climate is temperate, with daily temperatures rarely rising above 30 °C (86 °F) or falling below 0 °C (32 °F). In January, the average daily high and low temperatures are 7.0 °C (44.6 °F) and 3 °C (37.4 °F), respectively. In July, Victoria enjoys the moderating effects of the

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Pacific Ocean, averaging a daily high of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) and low of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F). The record daily high temperature was 35.3 °C (95.5 °F) on July 23, 2004, and the record daily low temperature was -15.6 °C (3.9 °F) on January 28, 1950.

Related Topics:
July 23 - 2004 - January 28 - 1950

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Victoria experiences a moderately wet winter, but suffers from drought-like conditions during the summer. The average January precipitation is 94.3 mm (3.71 inches), compared to just 14.0 mm (0.5 inches) in July. In January, Victoria receives an average of 15.2 cm (6.1 inches) of snow, a figure skewed by the record-breaking Great Blizzard of 1996, when the city was buried under 120 cm (4 feet) of snow, receiving 64.5 cm (25.8 inches) in just one day. Generally speaking, however, snow is an uncommon occurrence even in the coldest months, and is usually limited to one or two brief dustings per year.

Related Topics:
January - 1996

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Victoria's equable climate has also added to its reputation as the "City of Gardens". With its mild temperatures and plentiful sunshine (2193.3 hours per year), Victoria boasts gardens that are home to many plant species rarely found elsewhere in Canada. Several species of palms, eucalyptus, and certain varieties of bananas can be seen growing throughout the area's gardens.

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Due to its Mediterranean-like climate, Southern Vancouver Island is also home to many rare native plants found nowhere else in Canada, including Quercus garryana (Garry oak), Arctostaphylos columbiana (Hairy manzanita), and Canada's only broadleaf evergreen tree, Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone). Many of these endangered species exist here at the northern end of their range, and are found as far south as Central and Southern California, and even parts of Mexico.

Related Topics:
Garry oak - Manzanita - Pacific madrone

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• Climate statistics from the Gonzales Hill weather station:http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/