Seasonal Changes on the BC Coast
Though much of Canada’s west coast is temperate – never too cold, and rarely blisteringly hot – seasonal changes bring shifts in daylight, temperatures, landscape and wildlife each and every year. Through spring, summer, fall and winter, the coast’s four-season playground provides much to do and to see no matter the season. Here what you can expect with the seasonal changes on the BC Coast.
Spring
Spring occurs mid-March through mid-June, a season which waves goodbye to winter, and welcomes the beginning of summer. Resulting from daylight savings time and the shift in the location of the sun, spring, on the BC coast, offers more daylight paired with a slow rise in temperatures. The coast, warmer than most parts of Canada this time of year, even celebrates an ‘Annual Flower Count’ in cities like Victoria, with wildlife like Black Bears making their first appearances after their multi-month hibernation.
Summer
Though summer months bring the temperatures of BC’s interior cities upwards of 30 to 40 degrees celsius (or, 86 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit), the coast is much milder. Though, not quite so uncomfortably hot, summer on the coast is ideal for ocean activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, and diving. And, with its mountainous terrain, and long stretches of beautiful roadway, hiking and biking are popular too. With the sunrise as early as 5 AM and as late as 9 PM, the days of summer are endlessly adventurous.
Fall
Providing a transition from summer to winter, fall sees a reduction in the hours of daylight and temperatures too. Though cooler, the decreasing temperature provides the most incredible scenery through the changing colours of the leaves on trees. Where previously bright, rich, and green, the leaves slowly transition from an equally striking mix of red, purple, and orange. And, as the leaves touch the ground, the birds take to the skies as they follow a migration pathway from Alaska to Patagonia, stopping in BC along the way. Where snow welcomes other areas of Canada during fall, much of the southern coast sees very little snow but does experience rain.
Winter
From the end of December to the end of February, winter and the resulting snow offers people and wildlife the chance to play. Though snow is common in many parts of BC, to find it on the southern coast, you’ll need to seek higher elevations. On mountains you’ll find outdoor enthusiasts participating in cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and horseshoeing. And, in more northern parts of BC, you may have the chance to see a majestic moose or an elk as they stride, with their long legs, through the snow.
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