The best times to visit Nova Scotia for ideal weather are
June 18th to October 7th
based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.
Nova Scotia Travel Guide
Other Nova Scotia Travel Info
Weather in Nova Scotia
Temperature
Average temperatures in Nova Scotia vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 21st percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Nova Scotia, the hottest months are July, August, and then September. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid August where highs are regularly around 78.5°F (25.8°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 58.4°F (14.7°C) at night.
Nova Scotia Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
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Nova Scotia Temperatures (Celsius)
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“Feels-Like” Temperatures
The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.
Nova Scotia Perceived Temperature (F)
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Nova Scotia Perceived Temperature (C)
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Average Nova Scotia Temperatures by Month
Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.
Show Fahrenheit
| Month | Avg. High (°F) | Avg. Mean (°F) | Avg. Low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34.6 | 26.3 | 19.3 |
| Feb | 32.7 | 23.8 | 16.2 |
| Mar | 37.7 | 28.2 | 20.1 |
| Apr | 49.6 | 39.1 | 30.6 |
| May | 60.8 | 50 | 40.5 |
| Jun | 68.1 | 57.2 | 47.7 |
| Jul | 77.4 | 66.6 | 57.4 |
| Aug | 76.8 | 66.4 | 57.8 |
| Sep | 70.1 | 59.5 | 50.5 |
| Oct | 58.2 | 49.8 | 42.8 |
| Nov | 50.8 | 42.2 | 35.1 |
| Dec | 40.3 | 32.9 | 26.7 |
Show Celsius
| Month | Avg. High (°C) | Avg. Mean (°C) | Avg. Low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.4 | -3.2 | -7.1 |
| Feb | 0.4 | -4.6 | -8.8 |
| Mar | 3.2 | -2.1 | -6.6 |
| Apr | 9.8 | 3.9 | -0.8 |
| May | 16 | 10 | 4.7 |
| Jun | 20.1 | 14 | 8.7 |
| Jul | 25.2 | 19.2 | 14.1 |
| Aug | 24.9 | 19.1 | 14.3 |
| Sep | 21.2 | 15.3 | 10.3 |
| Oct | 14.6 | 9.9 | 6 |
| Nov | 10.4 | 5.7 | 1.7 |
| Dec | 4.6 | 0.5 | -2.9 |
Precipitation (Rain or Snow)
If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Nova Scotia are April, August, and then July. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early March. For example, on the week of March 5th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early to mid December with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of December 10th.
When can you find snow in Nova Scotia? Weather stations report very large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around February, especially close to late February and early March. The best time to ski (if at all) in Nova Scotia is often around around March 26th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.
Chance of Precipitation
The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Nova Scotia.
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Snow on the Ground
The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Nova Scotia (in).
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Average Rain and Snow by Month
Show Inches
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (in) | Total Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | 7.8 | 4.5 |
| Feb | 36% | 11.7 | 4.6 |
| Mar | 24% | 11.4 | 3.5 |
| Apr | 21% | 10.1 | 2.4 |
| May | 27% | 1.5 | 2.8 |
| Jun | 26% | 0 | 3.8 |
| Jul | 22% | 0 | 2.9 |
| Aug | 22% | 0 | 3.8 |
| Sep | 27% | 0 | 4.8 |
| Oct | 33% | 0.4 | 5.7 |
| Nov | 34% | 0.7 | 4.6 |
| Dec | 48% | 4.9 | 6.7 |
Show Centimeters
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (cm) | Total Precipitation (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 | 19.8 | 11.4 |
| Feb | 36 | 29.7 | 11.7 |
| Mar | 24 | 29 | 8.9 |
| Apr | 21 | 25.7 | 6.1 |
| May | 27 | 3.8 | 7.1 |
| Jun | 26 | 0 | 9.7 |
| Jul | 22 | 0 | 7.4 |
| Aug | 22 | 0 | 9.7 |
| Sep | 27 | 0 | 12.2 |
| Oct | 33 | 1 | 14.5 |
| Nov | 34 | 1.8 | 11.7 |
| Dec | 48 | 12.4 | 17 |
Humidity and Wind
Nova Scotia has some very humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is April (64.6% relative humidity), and the most humid month is September (75.9%).
Wind in Nova Scotia is usually moderate. The windiest month is March, followed by December and January. March’s average wind speed of around 12.1 knots (13.9 MPH or 22.4 KPH) is considered “a moderate breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early March where average top sustained speeds reach 15.7 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.
Relative Humidity (%)
The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Nova Scotia.
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Wind
The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.
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Average Wind Speeds
Show Wind Speeds
All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.
| Month | Avg. Wind | Avg. Wind Feel | Sustained High Wind | High Wind Feel |
| Jan | 11.1 | Significant breeze | 15.6 | Significant breeze |
| Feb | 10.9 | Gentle breeze | 15.2 | Significant breeze |
| Mar | 12.1 | Significant breeze | 16.9 | Significant breeze |
| Apr | 7.2 | Gentle breeze | 10.1 | Gentle breeze |
| May | 7.7 | Gentle breeze | 10.8 | Significant breeze |
| Jun | 7.2 | Gentle breeze | 10.1 | Gentle breeze |
| Jul | 7 | Gentle breeze | 9.9 | Significant breeze |
| Aug | 6.8 | Light breeze | 9.5 | Gentle breeze |
| Sep | 7.7 | Gentle breeze | 10.8 | Significant breeze |
| Oct | 7.4 | Gentle breeze | 10.3 | Gentle breeze |
| Nov | 9 | Gentle breeze | 12.5 | Significant breeze |
| Dec | 11.3 | Significant breeze | 15.8 | Significant breeze |
Show Relative Humidity by Month
| Month | Avg. Relative Humidity |
|---|---|
| Jan | 72.6% |
| Feb | 74.1% |
| Mar | 67.6% |
| Apr | 64.6% |
| May | 65.9% |
| Jun | 70.7% |
| Jul | 71% |
| Aug | 74.6% |
| Sep | 75.9% |
| Oct | 73.5% |
| Nov | 70.1% |
| Dec | 72.9% |
Is it Safe to Travel to Nova Scotia?
#N/A
The Busiest and Least Crowded Months
The busiest month for tourism in Nova Scotia, Canada is July, followed by August and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Nova Scotia in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.
Estimated Tourism by Month
Most Popular Months to Visit
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Overall Nova Scotia Travel Experience by Season
Spring (March through May)
Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 65.1°F (18.4°C) and 33.8°F (1°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 6 to 8 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.
Summer (June through August)
The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 7 to 8 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Nova Scotia, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.
Fall (September through November)
Fall daily highs range from 73.4°F (23°C) and 46.1°F (7.8°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 8 to 10 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.
Winter (December through February)
Weather is far too cold this time of year in Nova Scotia to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 44.6°F (7°C) and 28.5°F (-1.9°C). On average, it rains or snows a great amount: 10 to 15 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.
Best Times to Travel› Canada › Nova Scotia, Canada