Michelle

I have planned a trip over 3 weeks in April covering Vancouver-Whistler-Vancouver Island. A colleague has since told me that April is a bad time to go because there will be rain in Vancouver, no snow in Whistler, and it will be too cold to sit on the beach on Vancouver Island. We have 2 young children with us so the outdoor, rather than shops and sites, is important. Is the weather really like this in April?

jake

It rains in Vancouver--its a fact of life. Similar climate nto the Netherlands perhaps.

Go to weather.com or something and find rainfall averages for certain times of the year. And rain isn't THAT bad, is it?

michelle

I can put up with rain in the country I live in because I work indoors and have a busy routine with the children. However, in the few weeks of the year when I'm on holiday rain is unwelcome as it limits outdoor activities. Is it generally cold (jumper/warm socks plus raincoat) weather or fairly warm (T-shirt plus raincoat) weather? Is Vancouver Island generally colder/windier than Vancouver town?

gary

If you were trying to choosse the best month to visit Vancouver and Vancouver Island April would probably rank in the middle. Having lived here all my life I can tell you that April is usually fairly pleasant but it does rain at least one in three days and temperatures can be anywhere from 10C to 30C but more likely in the mid teens. There will likely still be lots of snow on the ski slopes of Whistler but not in the village itself. Even the local mountains on Vancouver's northern suburbs will still have snow.

In fact Holland is the wrong comperable - more like the south of England. If you're here for three weeks most likely you'll have some good and some lousy weather.

icithecat

I live in Victoria.

All I can say is maybe.

Today I woke up to a wind warning and the sounds of my windows rattling.

At lunchtime I sat outside with my shirtsleeves rolled up basking in the sunshine.

At 4:30 I put my sweater on, bottoned up my coat and put on my gloves for the walk home.

The umbrella stayed in the bag today.

Yesterday it rained a full inch.

Welcome to the coast.

Alice

I went to University in Victoria. We used to study for exams outside in the sun in April. So you have a decent chance of warm/temperate (but not hot) weather, but there will also be rain. Victoria gets more sun than the Vancouver/Lower Mainland area.

I went to high school in Vancouver, and we used to ski and sunbathe on the same day (usually in little beds dug out of the snow) in March-April. I think (but am not sure) that Whistler/Blackcomb use machines to keep snow on the ground for spring skiing.

The "Sunshine Coast" north of Vancouver (where I grew up) also gets more sun than Vancouver (but it's as dull as a bag of hammers, unless you want to scuba dive or reenact your favourite scenes from the Beachcombers).

Vancouver climate overall reminded me a lot of London, England (where I lived last year).

Sue

Alice-

Sunshine Coast is dull? Even Princess Louisa Inlet? (I'll believe you if you say so...in which case we should switch plans to whale-watch somewhere?) (And excuse me, Michelle, for butting in on your thread...)

icithecat

Sue.
The sunshine coast would be dull to a kid growing up there.
To a nature loving adult it is a wonderland.
I must warn you though. Ever wonder why an island covered with ice all year is called Greenland?
From a Victorian, I could not believe how hard it rains there.
Michelle.
By April many of my Daffs and Camelias will be dead, to be replaced by Rhodos and Roses.
Most years April is summer here.
It will rain sometimes though.
PS.
There is skiing at Whistler all year round. They have a glacier. The 'Season' may or may not be over.
The moskitos would not be out yet.

So, go for it, it could be the best trip of your life.

kanis

I must admit, this has been one of the best winters we've had in Vancouver since I moved here in 1990. Yes it does rain here but lately the weather has been gorgeous. Very little rain. In fact today the PE students at my school were outside playing in the field. April has rather mild temperature with periods of rain. You wouldn't be able to sunbathe at the beach but definitely a nice walk along the seawall, a hike in the woods, or check out the Capilano suspension bridge. A great thing for the family is Science World - interactive museum.

Once piece of advice about Vancouver in the Spring - if you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes. On that note, do bring clothing for wet weather and discover the beauty of layering.