Why Are Some Cities Drier Than Others
There are several reasons why some cities experience drier conditions (less precipitation) than others. Probably the largest factor in determining whether a city is one of the driest cities in Canada is how close it is to water, especially being near an ocean. Being close to a relatively large body of water such as a lake or something like Hudson’s Bay can have a rather large impact on how much precipitation that a city gets, however being near an Ocean is even more drastic, meaning that the cities on the west and east coasts of the country, bordering the two largest oceans in the world. However, there are also a few other reasons that one place might be drier than another.
Mountains are a significant reason why some places are drier than others. If clouds are about to pass over mountains, they will often ‘dump’ the liquid in them in the form of precipitation, meaning that cities directly to the west of mountains are often very wet, while those on the east are generally much drier.
Warmer places also tend to have more rain, since the water from previous rain storms evaporates more quickly, leading to clouds becoming nimbostratus or cumulonimbus clouds at a faster rate. Below are some of the places in each region within the country.
Driest Cities In The Territories
Due to them being relatively cold, and therefore having less evaporation, the territories tend to have less precipitation than other places in the country. Here are the driest cities in each of Canada’s three territories.
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
With less than 150 millimetres of precipitation annually, the small hamlet of Cambridge Bay is the driest city in Nunavut. When there, a good place you can check out is Ovayuk Territorial Park, where you will get to see animals such as caribou, arctic fox, arctic hare, and snowy owls.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Although Yellowknife came a close second in the Northwest Territories, Inuvik averages less than 250 millimetres of precipitation per year, making it the driest city in this territory. If you want to visit, it’s best to do so during the Great Northern Art Festival held in the summer months for about 10 days annually.
Whitehorse, Yukon
Averaging around 260 millimetres of precipitation annually, the territory’s capital is also the territory’s driest city. If you’re ever here, there are a handful of museums you can see, including the MacBride Copperbelt Mining Museum, the MacBride Museum of Yukon History, and the Yukon Transportation Museum.
Driest Cities In BC
BC gets more precipitation than most other places in Canada. This is because it’s relatively hot compared to the rest of the country, especially in the south, borders the largest ocean in the world on one side, and mountains on the other side. However, there are plenty of cities within the province that don’t get nearly as much rain as the rest of the province. Some of the driest are below, and they are much drier than the wettest places in the province, with cities like Vancouver getting several times more rain than the cities listed here.
Kamloops
Averaging about 275 millimetres of precipitation annually, this city near the south of the province is one of Canada’s driest cities. Some of the most popular attractions in the city include BC Wildlife Park, Monte Creek Winery, Riverside Park and McArthur Island Park.
Kelowna
Kelowna’s average of about 350 millimetres of precipitation annually is higher than most other cities on this list, but it is low by BC standards. The city seems to be relatively high-class, as it is known for its wine scene, E-Bike scene, and several sailing tours.
Prince George
Although Prince George’s average of around 550 millimetres of precipitation annually might seem like a lot compared to other cities on this list, that’s still a low amount by BC standards. Things to do here include seeing some of the many parks, including Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, Purden Lake Provincial Park and Cottonwood Island Nature Park. If you’re not into nature, you can also see Northern Lights Estate Winery and Prince George Railway Museum.
Williams Lake
Despite being located very close to a lake with the same name, Williams Lake is one of the driest cities in BC, averaging about 450 millimetres of precipitation annually. Many of the activities to partake in when at Williams Lake include using the neighbouring lake for which the city is named. These include Scout Island Nature Centre and Williams Lake River Valley Trail. Some fun places to learn include the Tourism Discovery Centre and the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin.
Driest Cities In The Prairies
The prairies tend to be a bit drier than a lot of other places in the country. However, one major difference is the fact that there is a much smaller difference between the rainiest and driest cities in the region. Unlike BC, even the rainiest cities in the province are still relatively dry overall. The driest cities in each of the prairie provinces are listed below.
Brooks, Alberta
Brooks is the driest city in Alberta, averaging about 300 millimetres of precipitation annually. Some of the most popular activities in the city include visiting Tillebrook Provincial Park, White Barn Fun Farm, Piston Broke Brewing and Brooks and District Museum.
Churchill, Manitoba
You likely wouldn’t expect the city known as the polar bear capital of the world to be listed here, but with only about 450 millimetres of rain annually, Churchill is the driest city in Manitoba. While here, you can check out the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, the Itsanitaq Museum, and the Lazy Bear Lodge.
Kindersley, Saskatchewan
Averaging about 325 millimetres of rain annually, Kindersley is the driest city in Saskatchewan. While here, you can visit the Kindersley and District Plains Museum and the Kindersley Aquatics Centre waterpark.
Driest Cities In Ontario
Ontario gets a surprising amount of rain, considering it doesn’t border an ocean. However, with Hudson’s Bay, James Bay and the Great Lakes, there are plenty of bodies of water nearby. However, the province is much rainier than expected, even though the rain is relatively well distributed. Places like Toronto and Hamilton, which are notably higher on the list, are only slightly rainier than the driest cities, which are below.
Dryden
Averaging about 725 millimetres of precipitation annually, Dryden is one of the driest cities in Ontario. If you decide to check it out, some places that you should see include Aaron Provincial Park, Dryden & District Museum and Laura Howe Marsh Long Loop Trail.
Kenora
With an average of over 700 millimetres of precipitation on average, Kenora is slightly drier than Dryden. Some places you can enjoy the lack of rain are Rushing River Provincial Park, Hoopla Island (although since it’s a waterpark, you’ll still get wet), and the Tunnel Island Trail. If you prefer being indoors, check out The Muse – Lake of the Woods Museum & Douglas Family Art Centre.
Red Lake
Although Red Lake sounds like the kind of place that would get a lot of precipitation, it averages less than 700 millimetres of rain annually. Some cool sights to see here include Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre and West Red Lake Mining Museum.
Thunder Bay
With closer to 675 millimetres of precipitation annually, Thunder Bay is the driest city in Ontario. Possibly its most well-known landmark is the Terry Fox Monument, which honours one of Canada’s greatest heroes. If you want to have fun instead, you can check out Cascades Conservation Area, Marina Park and Pigeon River Provincial Park.
Driest Cities In Quebec
Quebec is quite rainy. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that it’s just east of Hudson Bay. It doesn’t matter the reason, as even the driest cities in this province are still pretty rainy. Below are some of the driest ones, despite the fact that they’re not very dry.
Rimouski
Located just to the East of the St. Lawrence River, Rimouski gets an average of about 950 millimetres of precipitation annually. The city is known for their minor league hockey team, the Rimouski Oceanic, which has a history of then-future NHL stars playing for them, including Sydney Crosby, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier. If you check out a game, you might see the next superstar play.
Saguenay
With about 925 millimetres of precipitation annually, Saguenay is one of the driest cities in Quebec. While here, you can check out La Pulperie de Chicoutimi Musée Régional, Saguenay River and The Air Defence Museum.
Val-d’Or
Averaging about 900 millimetres of precipitation annually, Val-d’Or is dry compared to the rest of the province. If you ever check this place out, be sure to see Domaine Des Trois Vents, Theatre Telebec and Kinawit.
Driest Cities In Atlantic Canada
Due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic Canada is one of the rainiest places in the country. Also, due to their small sizes, PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia see very little difference between their rainiest and driest cities. Below are the driest cities in each province of Atlantic Canada.
Alberton, PEI
Averaging just over 1000 millimetres of precipitation annually, Alberton is slightly drier than the rest of the province. While there, be sure to check out Jacques Cartier Provincial Park and Alberton Museum.
Fredericton, New Brunswick
As the only capital on this list other than Whitehorse, Fredericton gets over 1050 millimetres in an average year, which still makes it the driest large city in the province. While there, check out the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Odell Park and Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.
Happy-Valley Goose Bay, Newfoundland And Labrador
This city with an absolute mouthful of a name gets ‘only’ about 950 millimetres of rain in an average year. While here, check out The Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre, The Labrador Military Museum and Birch Island Trail.
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Although some unincorporated small towns are drier, out of the major cities, Yarmouth is the driest large city in Nova Scotia, getting almost 1300 millimetres of precipitation annually. While there, you can check out the Firefighters’ Museum of Nova Scotia, W. Laurence Sweeney Fisheries Museum and Frost Park.