Find out which cities offer the best chances to avoid the winter chill this year
Five cities in Ontario, four in British Columbia, and one in Nova Scotia are shaping up to be promising destinations for Canadians looking to avoid the grim chill of winter, according to Point2 Homes.
“This year, Canadians are being advised to avoid non-essential travel outside of the country,” Point2 Homes said in its recent analysis. “So, for around one million retired and semi-retired people, going south to escape the long, dark winter days and the bitter cold is no longer an option.”
Fortunately, these snowbirds have multiple options that are much closer to home, particularly near Ontario’s southern border.
The province’s top winter destinations are Toronto (minimum temperature of -6.7°C and maximum of 2.1°C in winter), Windsor (min -7.3°C and max 2°C), St. Catharines (min -7.4°C and max 2.5°C), Oshawa (min -8.5°C and max 2.1°C), and Hamilton (min -9.3°C and max 1.2°C).
Overall, British Columbia sports the most pleasant temperatures in Canada during the winter, Point2 Homes said. The best options in this province are Victoria (min 1.1°C and max 8.8°C), Vancouver (min 0.8°C and max 8.2°C), Abbotsford (min -0.1°C and max 9°C), and Kelowna (min -5.9°C and max 3.6°C).
“Plus, with fewer than five days with snowfall, whichever BC city that snowbirds choose will probably allow them to escape the weather conditions they dread the most: snow, wind, humidity and frigid winter days,” Point2 Homes said.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, aside from featuring balmy beaches and the pastoral delights of wooded areas and trails, features a minimum temperature of- 8.2°C and a maximum of 2.8°C.
“The grim reality of the pandemic continuing into winter has also shattered Canadian snowbirds’ hopes of crossing the border to avoid the bad weather that wreaks havoc on their health and wellbeing,” Point2 Homes said. “And, while these 10 alternative destinations within the country’s borders might not be as sunny as their usual winter destinations, these cities could be the ideal solution for snowbirds in a less-than-ideal year.”
