Climate guide for Squamish, Canada

Best Time to Visit
Squamish

How to read the score (0–10)
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01 · Canada

About Squamish

Squamish's granite walls, including the Stawamus Chief, make it a world climbing destination, and the Howe Sound fjord fills the western view. The Sea to Sky gondola, the estuary trails and the nearby Garibaldi park fill the days, and Whistler and Vancouver are short drives. May to October suits climbing and hiking; winter is quieter with snow on the higher trails.

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Did you know?

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Travel Tips

01Best time & timing
Climate scores swing from 1.4/10 in December to 9.5/10 in July; the safest picks are July, August, June.
02Weather & what to pack
Expect around 18°C and 39 mm of rain in July, with roughly 31 bright days. Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
03Crowds & value
Peak-season pricing concentrates in July. For better value, June scores 8.4/10 at lower-season rates.

Things to do in Squamish

Squamish, Canada. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Squamish: the short answer

The best time to visit Squamish is July, followed by August, June. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: July averages 18°C with 39 mm of rain and about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, January.

Across the year Squamish swings from 0°C in January to 18°C in August, a 18-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 39 mm in July to 307 mm in December. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Squamish is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 8.1 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: August (18°C). Coolest: January (0°C). Driest: July (39 mm). Wettest: December (307 mm).

Squamish month by month

January in Squamish — off-season conditions

Hardest · 1.4/10

January averages 0°C (31°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 294 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.4 hours of daylight.

It scores 1.4/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

Flexible dates? July scores 8.1 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

February in Squamish — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.2/10

February averages 0°C (32°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 162 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.8 hours of daylight.

It scores 2.2/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

Flexible dates? July scores 7.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

March in Squamish: expect compromises

Hardest · 3.6/10

At 2°C (36°F) this is proper winter weather in March: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.

154 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 5 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.

That is 3.6/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 9.5/10 for the best month here.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Squamish — 5.9 points higher on the same scale.

April in Squamish: expect compromises

Hardest · 4.9/10

April averages 4°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 178 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 11 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 4.9/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

Flexible dates? July scores 4.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

May in Squamish — reliably good (4th best month)

Good · 7.6/10

Expect 10°C (50°F) in May. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

112 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.

That is 7.6/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 9.5/10 for the best month here.

Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Squamish — 1.9 points higher on the same scale.

June holds up well in Squamish — 3rd best month

Good · 8.4/10

June averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 97 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 16.1 hours of daylight.

It scores 8.4/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

July: the best month of the year in Squamish

Best window · 9.5/10

July averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 39 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.7 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Squamish at 9.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

August is one of the strongest months in Squamish (2nd)

Best window · 8.9/10

Temperatures hover around 18°C (64°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

Budget for roughly 66 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.2 hours of daylight to work around it.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Squamish at 8.9/10 (2nd of 12), just behind July at 9.5/10.

Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

September in Squamish — reliably good (5th best month)

Good · 7.3/10

Temperatures hover around 14°C (56°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

Budget for roughly 78 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 11 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.3 hours of daylight to work around it.

That is 7.3/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 9.5/10 for the best month here.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Squamish — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.

October in Squamish: expect compromises

Hardest · 3.8/10

October averages 9°C (48°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

218 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 3.8/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

Flexible dates? July scores 5.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

November in Squamish — off-season conditions

Hardest · 2/10

November averages 1°C (34°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

217 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 2/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

Flexible dates? July scores 7.5 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

December in Squamish — off-season conditions

Hardest · 1.4/10

At 0°C (32°F) this is proper winter weather in December: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.

307 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 7.9 hours of daylight.

That is 1.4/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.5/10 for the best month here.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Squamish — 8.1 points higher on the same scale.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Squamish, Canada?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Squamish are July, August. July is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.5/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
What is the weather like in Squamish year-round?
Squamish has a climate profile suited to nature and wildlife travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 0°C in January to 18°C in August, with Ideal Weather scores between 1.4 and 9.5 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Squamish?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Squamish are January (1.4/10), December (1.4/10), November (2.0/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
When is the rainy season in Squamish?
December is the wettest month in Squamish, averaging about 307 mm of rainfall. July is the driest, at roughly 39 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Squamish?
July sees the most sun in Squamish, with about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Squamish a good destination for nature and wildlife travel?
Squamish is well suited to nature and wildlife travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (July, August) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Squamish calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Squamish: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine - weighted for nature and wildlife travel.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

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Curated in Squamish

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