UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024
Winter in Halifax, how bad is it?
Depending on where you are coming from really determines how you will find winter in Halifax.
We came from the UK where everything shuts down at the sight of a snowflake so our first experience of snow in Halifax was amusing.
We had freshly arrived with our PR cards in hand in March 2007 and moved into our home a few days later. There wasn’t a single flake of snow anywhere to be found and the sun was shining. We were thinking “this is winter in Canada, really? This will be a breeze”
Certain that an early Halifax Spring was on the way, a few weeks later, on Easter weekend the biggest dump of snow of winter 2007 arrived. We were caught without proper clothing (our container hadn’t yet arrived with all our winter clothing) and we didn’t even have snow shovels. We were typically unprepared “tourists” and eternally grateful to our lovely neighbour who dug us out while (I imagine) was rolling his eyes at our spectacular unpreparedness for a new life in Canada.
So what have we learned from this experience?
- Winter is long
- Being prepared is essential
- To fully embrace winter can be costly
We genuinely love winter in Halifax, Nova Scotia
There is so much to do from skiing (we have two ski hills, Ski Martock and Ski Wentworth) skating, sledding, snow shoeing and winter hiking, but we know many people who detest it and I can understand the contempt, especially as we are now into our 18th winter in Canada and getting that much older (and wiser, perhaps).
One thing we know for sure is that to get through winter in Canada, you ABSOLUTELY have to embrace it and get outside and enjoy it, otherwise it can really make you miserable.
Unlike the Prairies and other provinces that face extreme winter conditions, Halifax winters are relatively mild. While temperatures in places can plunge to -40°C, feeling more like -45 to -48°C, we don’t experience anything that harsh here. We’re also less impacted by the intense ice storms that can hit other parts of Canada, making winters here a bit more manageable.
Each winter is different here on the East Coast—some are easier than others. In 2022, we faced a particularly challenging season with prolonged cold spells that kept lakes and backyard rinks frozen longer than usual. We also had our first ice storm in over 17 years, which, like many Nova Scotians, left us without power for 26 hours. Yet, although it was an inconvenience, it was an unforgettable experience: everything was coated in ice, and the trees, weighed down with what looked like millions of sparkling diamonds, made magical sounds, like wind chimes, as they crackled under the weight. It was a messy, yet breathtakingly beautiful reminder of winter’s power and beauty. In contrast, 2023 brought a more typical snowy winter, complete with the occasional heavy snowstorm. As for what winter 2024/2025 has in store—who knows? So far, we haven’t seen any snow, but that could change at any moment.
“Real” winter in Halifax doesn’t usually start until January.
November and December usually bring a few cold days and maybe a snowstorm or two, but Christmas can often be mild and green. Last January, however, winter was as Canadian as it gets! It was cold for most of the month, with a couple of major storms. We were still digging out from a weekend nor’easter that dumped about a foot and a half of snow, along with strong winds, freezing rain, rain, and more snow. The snowbanks at the end of our driveway were like icebergs, with temperatures hovering between -10°C and -20°C each night.
Sound pretty grim, right?
But it’s not! It’s absolutely beautiful. A cold, crisp, snowy day can be absolutely beautiful. The sun shines, the sky is clear and blue, and the snow sparkles in the light. When there’s no wind, it feels almost magical. Once you bundle up, stepping outside is refreshing—you can feel the cool air invigorate you with every breath. I absolutely love it. Our dog enjoys his walk too, bundled up in his warm coat and booties when it’s especially cold. There’s something about these winter days that just makes everything feel brighter.

In general, winter conditions in Halifax tend to be variable, making it hard to predict. It’s a pointless task checking the weather forecast for the week ahead. There’s a saying here that if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes and that is certainly true of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Shifts occur rapidly (sunny, foggy, cloudy, snow, rain, freezing rain, snow, dry) and temperature changes can see the mercury soaring or plummeting in a matter of hours, often leaving a messy mix behind.
One thing you will notice, is that true Canadians rarely talk about the weather.
You can often gage how intense a winter storm is going to be by the number of people in the grocery or liquor stores (seriously!). People will stock up on storm chips, hot chocolate, non perishable foods incase of a power outage – and alcohol. Once pantry’s are stocked, most people will ride out the storm unless they are an essential worker and have to make it into work. Bus routes tend to move to a snow plan so allow for disruptions if you use public transport.
Roads can be messy to drive on, especially if they haven’t been plowed very well. Generally, highways are well maintained during the winter. Subdivisions and side walks (pavements) not so well. Winter driving can take a bit of getting used to and practicing in all types of winter weather is really worth doing. Plus good snow tyres makes a huge difference in winter driving.
Winter in Halifax is really what you make it.
People still have to get to work, to school, to appointments and run errands. As such, dressing in layers is key to making all types of winter conditions bearable. Waterproof jackets and footwear will keep you dry while hats, gloves and face coverings will keep you warm.
You’ll often hear people say “there is no bad weather, there is just bad clothing” and in a way I think this is true.
Thermals are a good investment if you really feel the cold. I’ll often wear a long sleeve thermal top as a base layer if I am working from home and not moving around too much. The advantage of wearing layers is that it traps the body heat inside and helps you to stay warm. You can easily take something off when you get too hot and put another layer on if you get too cold.
As mentioned previously, we don’t tend to get extreme cold here in Halifax but we will occasionally get a frostbite weather warning during the winter. It’s very important to cover all exposed skin if you are going to be out in extreme weather. Hypothermia and frostbite are the two most common issues from staying unprotected in the cold. When the weather is bitterly cold but the sun is shining, it’s fun to be out as long as you are well protected. We’ve been snowshoeing in temperatures of minus 10c and opening jackets and taking off hats because we warmed up so quickly. But it’s very easy to cool off rapidly once you stop moving. Using your common sense and judging what feels right to you is essential.
With that being said, depending on where you arrive from and how deep your pockets are, winter can be costly especially if you want to embrace all that there is to do. Kitting out the whole family with winter clothing and boots, skis, skates, sleds can be expensive. For the first few years, we rented skis when we went to the local ski hill but it ended up being far cheaper to buy second hand, lightly used skis for the children. Skates and helmets are free if you skate at the Halifax Oval but you’ll probably need to buy a good helmet and skates if your children are interested in learning to skate. Again, you can buy “almost new” skates that children quickly grow out of but a brand new helmet is always a wise move so you know it hasn’t been involved in any collisions. Helmets don’t always show signs of damage and it’s a gamble when buying them used.
Plus, there is additional cost of winter tyres, having them put on and taken off and snow clearing equipment.
Despite what you might read on other forums, winter is very manageable here in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As long as you are dressed right and you have a good mindset, you’ll sail through it. Yes it’s long, but it’s a “proper” winter and far nicer than the rainy, grey, miserable winter of the UK that we happily left behind.
Please reach out if I can answer any of your questions about life in Halifax, NS. We are always happy to help!