Halifax has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), bordering on an oceanic climate (Cfb), with warm

summers and relatively mild winters, which is due to Gulf Stream moderation. The weather is usually
milder in the winter or cooler in the summer than areas at similar latitudes inland, with the temperature
remaining (with occasional notable exceptions) between about −8 and 28 °C (18 and 82 °F).[17] January
is the coldest month, being the only month with a high that is slightly below freezing at −0.1 °C (31.8 °F),
while August is the warmest. The sea heavily influences the climate of the area, causing significant
seasonal lag in summer, with August being significantly warmer than June and with September being the
third mildest month in terms of mean temperature.[18] The January mean is only 1.1 °C (2.0 °F) colder
than the isotherm for the oceanic climate.

Precipitation is high year-round. Winter features a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow with frequent
freeze-thaw cycles. Snowfall is heavy in winter, but snow cover is usually patchy owing to the frequent
freeze-thaw cycles, which melt accumulated snow. Some winters feature colder temperatures and fewer
freeze-thaw cycles; the most recent of which being the winter of 2014–2015, which was the coldest,
snowiest and stormiest in about a century. Spring is often wet and cool and arrives much later than in
areas of Canada at similar latitudes, due to cooler sea temperatures. Summers are mild and pleasant,
with hot and humid conditions very infrequent. Warm, pleasant conditions often extend well into
September, sometimes into mid-October. Average monthly precipitation is highest from November to
February due to intense late-fall to winter storms migrating from the Northeastern U.S., and lowest in
summer, with August being the year's warmest and driest month on average. Halifax can sometimes
receive hurricanes, mostly between August and October. An example is when Hurricane Juan, a category
2 storm, hit in September 2003 and caused considerable damage to the region. Hurricane Earl grazed the
coast as a category 1 storm in 2010. In 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall just south of Halifax as a
post-tropical storm with an intensity equivalent to a category 2 hurricane and caused significant damage
across Nova Scotia.[19] Atlantic sea surface temperatures have risen in recent years, making Halifax and
the coast of Nova Scotia somewhat more susceptible to hurricanes than the area had been in the past.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Halifax was 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) on July 10, 1912,[20] and the
lowest temperature recorded was −29.4 °C (−20.9 °F) on February 18, 1922.[21] The March 2012 North
American heat wave brought unusually high temperatures to the municipality of Halifax. On March 22,
the mercury climbed to 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) at the Halifax Windsor Park weather station,[22] and 27.2 °C
(81.0 °F) at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.[23] In spite of the possibility of high temperatures, in a
normal year there are only three days that go above 30 °C (86 °F).[24] Halifax also has a modest frost
count by Canadian standards due to the maritime influence, averaging 131 air frosts and 49 full days
below freezing annually.[24] On average the frost-free period is 182 days, ranging from May 1 to October
31.[24]

Climate data for Halifax (Citadel Hill)

Climate ID: 8202220; coordinates 44°39′N 63°35′W; elevation: 70.1 m (230 ft); 1981–2010 normals,
extremes 1863–present[a]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Year

Record high °C (°F) 14.0

(57.2) 16.0

(60.8) 28.2

(82.8) 28.3

(82.9) 33.3

(91.9) 34.4

(93.9) 37.2

(99.0) 34.4

(93.9) 34.6

(94.3) 31.1

(88.0) 23.3

(73.9) 16.7

(62.1) 37.2

(99.0)

Average high °C (°F) −0.1

(31.8) 0.4

(32.7) 3.6

(38.5) 8.7

(47.7) 14.4

(57.9) 19.6

(67.3) 23.1

(73.6) 23.1

(73.6) 19.3

(66.7) 13.4

(56.1) 8.1

(46.6) 2.8

(37.0) 11.4
(52.5)

Daily mean °C (°F) −4.1

(24.6) −3.6

(25.5) −0.2

(31.6) 4.9

(40.8) 10.1

(50.2) 15.2

(59.4) 18.8

(65.8) 19.1

(66.4) 15.5

(59.9) 9.9

(49.8) 4.8

(40.6) −0.8

(30.6) 7.5

(45.5)

Average low °C (°F) −8.2

(17.2) −7.5

(18.5) −3.9

(25.0) 1.0

(33.8) 5.8

(42.4) 10.7

(51.3) 14.4

(57.9) 15.1

(59.2) 11.8

(53.2) 6.4

(43.5) 1.5

(34.7) −4.3

(24.3) 3.6

(38.5)
Record low °C (°F) −27.2

(−17.0) −29.4

(−20.9) −23.3

(−9.9) −13.9

(7.0) −5.0

(23.0) 0.0

(32.0) 4.4

(39.9) 3.9

(39.0) −1.7

(28.9) −7.2

(19.0) −15.6

(3.9) −25.6

(−14.1) −29.4

(−20.9)

Average precipitation mm (inches) 139.7

(5.50) 110.1

(4.33) 132.5

(5.22) 118.3

(4.66) 119.1

(4.69) 111.8

(4.40) 110.3

(4.34) 96.4

(3.80) 108.9

(4.29) 124.3

(4.89) 151.4

(5.96) 145.1

(5.71) 1,468.1

(57.80)

Average rainfall mm (inches) 96.7

(3.81) 75.1

(2.96) 101.3

(3.99) 111.3

(4.38) 118.4

(4.66) 111.8

(4.40) 110.3

(4.34) 96.4

(3.80) 108.9

(4.29) 124.1

(4.89) 143.6

(5.65) 115.9

(4.56) 1,313.9

(51.73)

Average snowfall cm (inches) 43.1

(17.0) 35.0

(13.8) 31.2

(12.3) 7.0

(2.8) 0.8

(0.3) 0.0

(0.0) 0.0

(0.0) 0.0

(0.0) 0.0

(0.0) 0.1

(0.0) 7.8

(3.1) 29.2

(11.5) 154.2

(60.7)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 13.8 11.6 13.1 15.2 15.8 13.6 12.1 11.1
11.7 14.1 15.3 14.5 161.8
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 8.5 6.5 10.2 14.1 15.7 13.6 12.1 11.1 11.7
14.1 14.5 10.8 142.7

Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 6.8 6.1 4.1 1.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0.1 1.2 5.2 25.3

Mean monthly sunshine hours 109.5 127.2 142.8 156.6 193.3 220.7 235.2 226.6 180.5
157.8 107.4 105.2 1,962.5

Percent possible sunshine 38.2 43.3 38.7 38.8 42.1 47.5 49.9 52.1 47.9
46.2 37.2 38.2 43.3

Average ultraviolet index 1 2 3 5 6 8 8 7 5

3 2 1 4

Source 1: Environment and Climate Change Canada (Sunshine data recorded at CFB
Shearwater)[25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

Source 2: Nova Scotian Institute of Science[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] and Weather Atlas[40]

Climate data for Halifax (Halifax Stanfield International Airport)

WMO ID: 71395; coordinates 44°52′48″N 63°30′00″W; elevation: 145.4 m (477 ft); 1981−2010 normals,
extremes 1953−present

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Year

Record high humidex 18.4 18.3 27.7 32.1 36.0 40.2 42.4 41.9 42.1 31.9
25.4 20.4 42.4

Record high °C (°F) 14.8

(58.6) 17.5

(63.5) 27.2

(81.0) 29.5

(85.1) 32.8

(91.0) 33.4

(92.1) 33.9

(93.0) 35.0

(95.0) 34.2

(93.6) 25.8

(78.4) 19.4

(66.9) 16.3
(61.3) 35.0

(95.0)

Average high °C (°F) −1.3

(29.7) −0.6

(30.9) 3.1

(37.6) 9.1

(48.4) 15.3

(59.5) 20.4

(68.7) 23.8

(74.8) 23.6

(74.5) 19.4

(66.9) 13.1

(55.6) 7.3

(45.1) 1.7

(35.1) 11.3

(52.3)

Daily mean °C (°F) −5.9

(21.4) −5.2

(22.6) −1.3

(29.7) 4.4

(39.9) 10.0

(50.0) 15.1

(59.2) 18.8

(65.8) 18.7

(65.7) 14.6

(58.3) 8.7

(47.7) 3.5

(38.3) −2.4

(27.7) 6.6
(43.9)

Average low °C (°F) −10.4

(13.3) −9.7

(14.5) −5.7

(21.7) −0.3

(31.5) 4.6

(40.3) 9.7

(49.5) 13.7

(56.7) 13.7

(56.7) 9.7

(49.5) 4.2

(39.6) −0.4

(31.3) −6.4

(20.5) 1.9

(35.4)

Record low °C (°F) −28.5

(−19.3) −27.3

(−17.1) −22.4

(−8.3) −12.8

(9.0) −4.4

(24.1) 0.6

(33.1) 6.1

(43.0) 4.4

(39.9) −0.8

(30.6) −6.7

(19.9) −13.1

(8.4) −23.3

(−9.9) −28.5

(−19.3)
Record low wind chill −40.4 −41.1 −33.9 −24.4 −10.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 −3.0 −10.1
−23.9 −35.6 −41.1

Average precipitation mm (inches) 134.3

(5.29) 105.8

(4.17) 120.1

(4.73) 114.5

(4.51) 111.9

(4.41) 96.2

(3.79) 95.5

(3.76) 93.5

(3.68) 102.0

(4.02) 124.9

(4.92) 154.2

(6.07) 143.3

(5.64) 1,396.2

(54.97)

Average rainfall mm (inches) 83.5

(3.29) 65.0

(2.56) 86.9

(3.42) 98.2

(3.87) 109.8

(4.32) 96.2

(3.79) 95.5

(3.76) 93.5

(3.68) 102.0

(4.02) 124.6

(4.91) 139.1

(5.48) 101.8

(4.01) 1,196.1
(47.09)

Average snowfall cm (inches) 58

(23) 45

(18) 37

(15) 16

(6.3) 2

(0.8) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 17

(6.7) 45

(18) 221

(87)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 18.7 15.2 15.1 14.8 13.7 12.9 11.3 11.0
10.2 12.1 15.1 17.4 167.4

Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 8.0 6.1 8.6 12.1 13.5 12.9 11.3 11.0 10.2
12.1 12.8 9.8 128.4

Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 14.6 12.0 9.6 5.2 0.61 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0.14 3.9 11.7 57.7

Average relative humidity (%) 73.0 67.4 64.5 62.9 61.9 62.6 63.0 62.9 64.4
66.9 73.2 75.5 66.5

Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada[41]

Metropolitan landscape

As of the 2021 Canadian Census, the Halifax Census Metropolitan Area (Metropolitan Halifax) is
coterminous with the Municipality of Halifax and the Municipality of East Hants. The total land area of
Metropolitan Halifax is 727,622 hectares (7,276.22 km2).[42]
The metropolitan area grew between the 2016 Canadian Census and the 2021 Canadian Census. Before
the 2021 Canadian Census, Metropolitan Halifax covered 549,631 hectares (5,496.31 km2).[43] After the
addition of the Municipality of East Hants, the metropolitan area's land area expanded by 177,991
hectares (1,779.91 km2) to its current land area.[42]

Municipal landscape

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding
citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

Find sources: "Halifax, Nova Scotia" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2018) (Learn
how and when to remove this template message)

Urban, suburban, and rural divisions as defined by HRM planning department.[44] The majority of
Halifax is made up of rural areas.

Halifax has two distinct areas; its rural area and its urban area. Since 1 April 1996, the entirety of the
County of Halifax and all of its places (cities, suburbs, towns, and villages) were turned into communities
of a larger single-tier municipality called Halifax Regional Municipality. As of 2021, the total surface area
of the municipality is 5,475.57 km2 (2,114.13 sq mi).[2]

The Halifax Regional Municipality occupies an area comparable in size to the total land area of the
province of Prince Edward Island, and measures approximately 165 km (103 mi) in length between its
eastern and westernmost extremities, excluding Sable Island. The nearest point of land to Sable Island is
not in HRM, but rather in adjacent Guysborough County. However, Sable Island is considered part of
District 7 of the Halifax Regional Council.

The coastline is heavily indented, accounting for its length of approximately 400 km (250 mi), with the
northern boundary of the municipality usually being between 50–60 km (31–37 mi) inland. The coast is
mostly rock with small isolated sand beaches in sheltered bays. The largest coastal features include St.
Margarets Bay, Halifax Harbour/Bedford Basin, Cole Harbour, Musquodoboit Harbour, Jeddore Harbour,
Ship Harbour, Sheet Harbour, and Ecum Secum Harbour. The municipality's topography spans from lush
farmland in the Musquodoboit Valley to rocky and heavily forested rolling hills. It includes a number of
islands and peninsulas, among them McNabs Island, Beaver Island, Melville Island, Deadman's Island and
Sable Island.

Regional Centre
The Halifax Regional Centre includes the Halifax Peninsula, and Dartmouth inside the Circumferential
Highway. The new inner-urban-area covers 3,300 hectares (33 km2),[45] and houses 96,619 people in
55,332 dwelling units as of the 2016 Census.[46] The Regional Centre has many public services within its
boundaries, and it hosts large entertainment venues (Scotiabank Centre), and major hospitals
(Dartmouth General Hospital, the QEII Health Sciences Centre, and IWK Health Centre).

Communities and neighbourhoods

Main article: Communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax is geographically large, and there are over 200 official communities-and-neighbourhoods within
the municipality. They vary from rural-to-urban. The former town of Bedford, and the former-cities of
Dartmouth-and-Halifax have maintained their original geographic names. Furthermore, communities
that were suburban, or even rural before-1996, now have become more urban and have attained
community status (e.g. Cole Harbour, Lower Sackville, Spryfield, et cetera).[47] These community names
are used on survey and mapping documents, for 9-1-1 service, municipal planning, and postal service.

Prior to the amalgamation of Halifax in 1996, and since its restructure as a Municipality, the growth of
Halifax has not only been sustained, but has gradually increased. Many of the present-day-communities
within the conurbation have morphed from being primarily rural in the recent-past, to now primarily
urban. With the demographic change-and-growth of many communities within urban Halifax, their
function-and-role within the conurbation has changed. With this continuous growth, many of the current
communities have developed de facto business districts where residents of their respective communities
(and their respective environs) can access needs-and-products that previously would be attained by
travelling elsewhere (e.g. to Downtown Dartmouth or to Downtown Halifax).

Community planning areas

A map of Halifax's Community Planning Areas.

Currently, the municipality is divided into 21 community planning areas which are further divided into
neighbourhoods.[48] The regional municipality has taken steps to reduce duplicate street names for its
9-1-1 emergency dispatch services; at the time of amalgamation, some street names were duplicated
several times throughout the municipality.[49]