February is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton, with average highs near -1.6°C and lows around -7.8°C (mean -4.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 88 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest February in Cape Breton was 2016 — when the month averaged -2°C — while the coldest was 1993 at -8°C. Typical February days reach -1.6°C with nights near -7.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
February is about average for rainfall in Cape Breton, averaging 88 mm of rainfall. The wettest February on record was 1999 with 182 mm, while the driest was 1994 at 24 mm.
Relative humidity in Cape Breton during February averages 87%. The most humid February was 1985 at 92%, and the least humid was 2006 at 82%.
February receives about 1.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cape Breton. The sunniest February was 2024 at 2.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1987 at 1.4.
Average wind speed in Cape Breton during February is 6.8 m/s. The windiest Februarys were 1982 and 2019 at 8.2 m/s, while the calmest was 2005 at 5.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -5.0°C | -5.4°C | -4.9°C | -4.2°C | -3.6°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg High | -1.8°C | -1.9°C | -1.9°C | -1.3°C | -0.7°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Low | -8.3°C | -8.8°C | -7.9°C | -7.1°C | -6.4°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 91 mm | 66 mm | 89 mm | 103 mm | 92 mm | +1 mm |
February temperatures in Cape Breton have risen by about 0.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
February has ranged from a record low of -21.4°C (2023) to a record high of 9.2°C (2000).
Rainfall in February is about average for rainfall, averaging 88 mm, with a wettest year of 182 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0.5°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Cape Breton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Cape Breton. That said, February — with days averaging -1.6°C and nights around -7.8°C (mean -4.7°C) and higher rainfall (88 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -2.0°C | -4.9°C | -7.8°C | 4.7°C | -13.2°C | 66 mm | 86% | 7.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2024 | -0.2°C | -2.6°C | -4.9°C | 6.3°C | -9.0°C | 116 mm | 88% | 6.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2023 | -1.3°C | -4.4°C | -7.4°C | 4.7°C | -21.4°C | 73 mm | 83% | 6.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2022 | 0.2°C | -2.7°C | -5.7°C | 9.0°C | -11.1°C | 115 mm | 85% | 7.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2021 | -0.1°C | -2.4°C | -4.7°C | 8.1°C | -8.9°C | 106 mm | 84% | 7.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2020 | -1.1°C | -4.6°C | -8.2°C | 4.6°C | -16.1°C | 75 mm | 90% | 6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2019 | -3.9°C | -6.9°C | -9.9°C | 3.2°C | -14.8°C | 89 mm | 85% | 8.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 0.6°C | -3.0°C | -6.6°C | 7.5°C | -14.4°C | 119 mm | 87% | 6.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2017 | -1.2°C | -3.6°C | -6.1°C | 6.4°C | -12.7°C | 94 mm | 87% | 6.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2016 🔥 | 0.9°C | -2.0°C | -5.0°C | 8.7°C | -13.4°C | 120 mm | 87% | 6.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2015 | -3.5°C | -7.7°C | -11.9°C | 6.6°C | -19.7°C | 120 mm | 87% | 7.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2014 | -2.5°C | -5.2°C | -8.0°C | 3.4°C | -14.3°C | 105 mm | 87% | 5.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2013 | -1.1°C | -4.1°C | -7.2°C | 3.1°C | -15.9°C | 134 mm | 88% | 7.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2012 | -0.6°C | -3.3°C | -6.1°C | 9.2°C | -12.9°C | 99 mm | 87% | 7.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2011 | -1.1°C | -4.2°C | -7.2°C | 3.8°C | -11.9°C | 104 mm | 87% | 6.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2010 | -0.8°C | -2.1°C | -3.5°C | 2.1°C | -12.7°C | 46 mm | 90% | 6.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2009 | -1.2°C | -4.7°C | -8.1°C | 3.5°C | -13.2°C | 88 mm | 90% | 6.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2008 | -0.1°C | -2.9°C | -5.7°C | 6.8°C | -13.0°C | 105 mm | 85% | 6.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2007 | -4.2°C | -6.6°C | -9.0°C | 2.0°C | -15.0°C | 28 mm | 85% | 6.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2006 | -1.4°C | -3.8°C | -6.3°C | 5.6°C | -13.4°C | 77 mm | 82% | 6.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2005 | -1.9°C | -4.3°C | -6.7°C | 5.7°C | -12.1°C | 59 mm | 85% | 5.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2004 | -2.0°C | -5.3°C | -8.6°C | 2.1°C | -17.3°C | 105 mm | 90% | 7.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2003 | -3.9°C | -7.4°C | -10.8°C | 3.9°C | -20.8°C | 112 mm | 88% | 7.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2002 | -1.5°C | -4.5°C | -7.6°C | 6.6°C | -15.3°C | 131 mm | 88% | 7.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | -2.1°C | -5.5°C | -8.8°C | 4.0°C | -18.5°C | 113 mm | 88% | 7.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2000 | -0.5°C | -4.1°C | -7.7°C | 9.2°C | -13.2°C | 71 mm | 85% | 6.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1999 🌧️ | -0.8°C | -3.3°C | -5.7°C | 4.5°C | -12.3°C | 182 mm | 90% | 7.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1998 | -0.3°C | -2.6°C | -4.8°C | 4.7°C | -10.2°C | 95 mm | 88% | 6.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1997 | -1.8°C | -5.5°C | -9.2°C | 3.9°C | -15.3°C | 58 mm | 86% | 6.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1996 | -0.2°C | -3.1°C | -6.0°C | 6.9°C | -13.4°C | 60 mm | 85% | 6.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1995 | -1.8°C | -5.2°C | -8.7°C | 4.8°C | -15.1°C | 43 mm | 82% | 7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 | -3.9°C | -7.6°C | -11.3°C | 6.7°C | -18.2°C | 24 mm | 86% | 6.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1993 ❄️ | -3.6°C | -8.0°C | -12.4°C | 5.8°C | -20.4°C | 56 mm | 86% | 6.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | -2.2°C | -6.2°C | -10.2°C | 3.3°C | -19.7°C | 74 mm | 89% | 7.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | -1.4°C | -4.8°C | -8.1°C | 4.5°C | -16.4°C | 27 mm | 84% | 6.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | -3.4°C | -7.6°C | -11.7°C | 4.8°C | -19.5°C | 40 mm | 87% | 7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1989 | -2.4°C | -5.9°C | -9.4°C | 5.6°C | -16.1°C | 68 mm | 86% | 6.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1988 | -0.2°C | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | 5.7°C | -15.1°C | 72 mm | 85% | 7.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1987 | -3.6°C | -6.9°C | -10.3°C | 3.4°C | -18.1°C | 52 mm | 91% | 6.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | -3.7°C | -7.3°C | -10.9°C | 1.9°C | -17.6°C | 66 mm | 89% | 7.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1985 | -2.8°C | -6.4°C | -10.0°C | 2.5°C | -20.4°C | 98 mm | 92% | 6.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1984 | 0.5°C | -2.2°C | -4.9°C | 6.9°C | -16.6°C | 110 mm | 89% | 6.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1983 | -1.1°C | -3.6°C | -6.2°C | 6.1°C | -12.3°C | 156 mm | 87% | 7.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -3.7°C | -6.6°C | -9.5°C | 5.0°C | -16.0°C | 143 mm | 86% | 8.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 1.1°C | -2.2°C | -5.6°C | 9.0°C | -13.9°C | 58 mm | 89% | 6.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded February data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in February is around -1.6°C with lows near -7.8°C (mean -4.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
February averages 88 mm of rainfall in Cape Breton, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 182 mm in 1999.
The hottest February reached 9.2°C in 2000. The coldest dipped to -21.4°C in 2023.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average February temperatures have risen by about 0.8°C. Daytime highs moved from -1.2°C to -0.7°C and overnight lows from -7.2°C to -6.1°C over the same span.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -1.6°C daytime highs and -7.8°C at night.
Yes — February is the coldest month of the year in Cape Breton, averaging -4.7°C.
For February in Cape Breton, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -1.6°C and lows of -7.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in February averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in February is 6.8 m/s. The windiest February on record averaged 8.2 m/s (1982).
The wettest February on record was 1999 with 182 mm. On average, February sees 88 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Cape Breton behaves each February, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for February specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
