Nelson has a cold continental climate with warm summers and freezing winters.
Temperatures peak in August and drop to their lowest in December, while rainfall is highest during autumn months.
Humidity remains high throughout the year, especially during winter months, creating cold and damp conditions.
| Month | 🌤️ | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Record High | Record Low | Humid % | Rain (mm) | Wind (m/s) | Solar (kWh/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | ❄️ | -5.8°C | -9.7°C | -13.6°C | 2.6°C | -39.0°C | 98% | 73 | 0.5 | 0.99 |
| February | ❄️ | -4.3°C | -8.8°C | -13.3°C | 1.4°C | -40.0°C | 98% | 56 | 0.5 | 1.91 |
| March | ❄️ | -1.0°C | -5.0°C | -9.0°C | 13.8°C | -31.5°C | 97% | 69 | 0.4 | 2.91 |
| April | 🌨️ | 4.9°C | 0.6°C | -3.8°C | 21.7°C | -18.8°C | 83% | 59 | 0.4 | 4.27 |
| May | 🌨️ | 13.5°C | 7.9°C | 2.2°C | 28.8°C | -8.1°C | 70% | 73 | 0.3 | 5.20 |
| June | ☔ | 17.2°C | 11.6°C | 6.1°C | 36.4°C | -2.6°C | 70% | 82 | 0.3 | 5.69 |
| July | ☀️ | 21.5°C | 15.5°C | 9.5°C | 32.3°C | 1.0°C | 64% | 45 | 0.3 | 6.47 |
| August | ☀️ | 21.6°C | 15.4°C | 9.2°C | 34.6°C | -0.6°C | 63% | 35 | 0.3 | 5.44 |
| September | 🌤️ | 16.6°C | 10.6°C | 4.6°C | 32.5°C | -7.1°C | 66% | 44 | 0.4 | 3.93 |
| October | 🌨️ | 8.1°C | 3.5°C | -1.0°C | 24.6°C | -23.3°C | 77% | 63 | 0.3 | 2.24 |
| November | ☔ | -1.3°C | -4.8°C | -8.3°C | 13.6°C | -38.5°C | 94% | 94 | 0.4 | 1.08 |
| December | ☔ | -6.8°C | -10.6°C | -14.5°C | 2.6°C | -40.8°C | 98% | 83 | 0.5 | 0.76 |
Showing average climate conditions across 45 years (1981–2025)
🧥 Pack heavy layers and prepare for snow — this is a Severe Winter destination.
🌤️ Conditions are ideal for outdoor activities throughout the day in this Mild Summer.
☔ Moderate Rainfall expected — carry rain gear and plan outdoor activities around these months.
Monthly averages · 1981–2025 climate normals · °C
Temperatures rise steadily from spring, peak in August, and gradually decline through autumn into winter.
These seasonal patterns make summer ideal for outdoor activities, while winters bring freezing conditions and heavy snowfall.
Monthly rainfall · 1981–2025 seasonal trends · mm/month
Rainfall is concentrated in the autumn months. Humidity stays high (around 82%), peaking during winter months, which creates cold and damp conditions.
☔ Moderate Rainfall expected — carry rain gear and plan outdoor activities around these months.
Monthly averages · 1981–2025
Across 45 years of records, Nelson's temperature has remained relatively stable over the past decade. Its hottest day reached 36.4°C in June 2021, and its coldest dropped to -40.8°C in December 1990. 1998 was the warmest year overall and 1985 the coolest.
The warmest year in Nelson's recorded history was 1998 (avg: 3.7°C), while the coldest was 1985 (avg: 0.3°C).
Average annual high/low · Last 30 years · °C
Total annual precipitation · Last 30 years · mm/year
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall (mm) | Avg Humidity | Avg Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 7.4°C | 2.9°C | -1.6°C | 29.9°C | -26.5°C | 1010 | 86% | 0.4 m/s |
2024 🌧️ | 7.2°C | 2.6°C | -2.0°C | 31.2°C | -39.0°C | 1103 | 85% | 0.4 m/s |
2023 | 7.7°C | 3.0°C | -1.8°C | 31.4°C | -31.4°C | 972 | 84% | 0.4 m/s |
2022 | 7.1°C | 2.3°C | -2.6°C | 31.2°C | -33.3°C | 721 | 82% | 0.4 m/s |
2021 | 7.7°C | 2.8°C | -2.1°C | 36.4°C | -32.6°C | 768 | 81% | 0.4 m/s |
2020 | 6.6°C | 2.0°C | -2.6°C | 30.7°C | -27.9°C | 911 | 85% | 0.4 m/s |
2019 | 6.3°C | 1.6°C | -3.1°C | 28.7°C | -28.4°C | 775 | 83% | 0.4 m/s |
2018 | 6.7°C | 2.0°C | -2.6°C | 34.6°C | -28.0°C | 996 | 85% | 0.4 m/s |
2017 | 6.3°C | 1.7°C | -3.0°C | 30.1°C | -29.5°C | 914 | 84% | 0.4 m/s |
2016 | 7.2°C | 2.8°C | -1.7°C | 27.4°C | -32.5°C | 1062 | 85% | 0.4 m/s |
Showing 1 to 10 of 45 years
Based on 45 years of data (1981–2025), August is typically the hottest month in Nelson, British Columbia, with average high temperatures around 21.6°C.
December is the coldest month in Nelson, with average low temperatures around -14.5°C.
November receives the most rainfall with approximately 94 mm, while August is the driest with 35 mm.
The highest recorded temperature was 36.4°C in June 2021. This is part of the historical record spanning 1981–2025.
The lowest recorded temperature was -40.8°C in December 1990.
This page covers 45 years of climate data from 1981 to 2025. As new data is added to the database the page automatically reflects the updated coverage.
Nelson receives the most sunlight in July with an average solar radiation of 6.47 kWh/m²/day. This solar radiation data, sourced from NASA POWER, is useful for solar energy planning and agriculture in British Columbia.
All climate data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite and model data. It provides monthly averages for temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.
All weather data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources), a NASA project providing solar and meteorological data for renewable energy, building efficiency, and agricultural research.
