Kelowna's Climate
Kelowna enjoys a mostly dry climate and mild weather. Hot and dry summers, mild winters and fertile soil make Kelowna an ideal area for growing grapes and producing wine. About 43% of land area in the City of Kelowna is Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) land.
A very dry Kelowna Summer in 2003 helped cause the Okanagan Park Fires. Kelowna received only 72.5 mm of precipitation between May and August of 2003 compared to 143.5 mm during the same period in 2006 according to The Weather Network. Kelowna’s average daily temperature is approximately 7.7 °C and it receives an average of 298 mm of rainfall based on Environment Canada’s most recent weather data.
Kelowna's rolling hills have allowed designers to carve out some of the most challenging golf courses in the world and its snowy mountain peaks make for world class skiing in Winter. Many of Kelowna's hotels are close to Lake Okanagan which allows sun bathers and water sport enthusiasts to cool off during Kelowna's sizzling summers. Taking a boat cruise is popular attraction among travelers who wish to enjoy Kelowna's cool summer evenings.
| Average & Record Temperatures | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature: | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Daily Average (°C) | -3.8 | -1.1 | 3.6 | 8.2 | 12.6 | 16.3 | 19.1 | 18.7 | 13.6 | 7.2 | 1.4 | -2.9 |
| Average Daily High (°C) | -0.2 | 3.3 | 9.6 | 15.4 | 20 | 23.9 | 27.6 | 27.3 | 21.5 | 13.4 | 5.4 | 0.6 |
| Average Daily Low (°C) | -7.4 | -5.5 | -2.4 | 0.8 | 5 | 8.6 | 10.5 | 10.2 | 5.7 | 0.9 | -2.7 | -6.4 |
| Record High (°C) | 14.8 | 14.7 | 20.8 | 28.1 | 34.4 | 38 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 34.8 | 26.8 | 20.6 | 15 |
| Record Low (°C) | -31.7 | -25.3 | -19.4 | -8.9 | -3.7 | -0.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | -6.1 | -15.7 | -28.4 | -36.1 |
| Average Rainfall (mm) | 7.8 | 9.6 | 16.9 | 25.6 | 39 | 40.7 | 36.9 | 33.6 | 32.7 | 25 | 21.3 | 9.1 |
| Average Snowfall (cm) | 29.2 | 15.7 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 14.8 | 35.7 |
Summer Sun
Kelowna’s hot, dry Summer Sun is one reason why many older houses in the city have a stucco exterior. Bring a hat to protect yourself from the Okanagan's Summer Sun on your next vacation, business trip or group adventure. Wearing a hat with a wide brim or long peak will help to shield you against heat stroke. Below is a list of some hats that will help protect you from Kelowna’s intense Summer Sun:
- Boater
- Baseball Cap
- Bucket Hat
- Cowboy Hat
- Fedora
- Panama
Winter Snow
Kelowna sits in the Okanagan Valley surrounded by mountains and escarpments. On a winter’s day, there may be no snow in Kelowna but lots of it in the mountains. Take a shuttle bus from your hotel to one of the ski resorts if you do not have a four-wheel drive automobile. Mountain roads can be narrow, winding, slippery, and dangerous when covered with snow.
