You’ve probably heard the rumors. People call it the wettest city in Canada. They say it never stops raining. Honestly, if you look at the stats, they aren’t exactly lying. Prince Rupert, perched right on the edge of Kaien Island, gets hit by Pacific moisture like nowhere else in North America. But if you think that just means "gloomy and miserable," you’re missing the actual vibe of the place.
Rain is basically the lifeblood here. It’s why the moss is so thick it looks like neon green carpet. It’s why the eagles are everywhere.
✨ Don't miss: Castel dell'Ovo Naples Italy: The Secret Behind the Name
The Reality of Prince Rupert BC Weather
Let's talk numbers. This place averages about 2,600 millimeters of precipitation a year. To put that in perspective for those who don't live in a rainforest, that’s over 100 inches. Compare that to somewhere like Vancouver, which gets around 1,100 millimeters. Prince Rupert is more than doubling the "rainy" city everyone complains about down south.
But here is the thing: it’s rarely a torrential downpour.
It’s a misty, persistent, moody kind of wet. Locals call it "Rupert Rain." It’s that fine spray that mocks your umbrella. You’ll see people walking to the Safeway in full Helly Hansen gear like they’re about to board a crab boat, and honestly, that’s just practical fashion.
Temperature Myths vs. Facts
One big misconception is that because it's in Northern BC, it must be freezing. Not really. Thanks to the Pacific Ocean, the temperature is surprisingly moderate.
- Winters: It rarely gets "Alberta cold." You’re looking at highs of 4°C and lows hovering around 1°C in January.
- Summers: Don't pack your bikini expecting a heatwave. August is the "hot" month, and "hot" here means 16°C or 17°C. If it hits 20°C, the locals start looking for shade and a cold beer because they aren't used to it.
Why Does It Rain So Much?
Geography is the culprit. You have the warm, moist air coming off the Pacific hitting the Coast Mountains. The air has nowhere to go but up. As it rises, it cools, and—boom—it dumps everything it’s carrying right on top of the city.
It makes the city the "Cloudiest City in North America." With only about 1,240 hours of sunshine a year, you learn to appreciate a sunbeam when it actually breaks through. In 2025, we saw a particularly wet October that dumped over 260 mm in a single month. That’s more than some cities get in a year.
The Rainbow Capital
Because the sun likes to play hide-and-seek with the rain clouds, you get rainbows. Constant rainbows. It’s not a gimmick for tourists; it’s a daily occurrence. You’ll be standing on the docks in Cow Bay, soaking wet, and suddenly the sky splits open with a double rainbow over the harbor.
It's sorta magical, if you can get past the damp socks.
Survival Tips for the "City of Rainbows"
If you’re planning a visit or moving here, forget your umbrella. The wind will just turn it into a broken metal skeleton within ten minutes.
Invest in a real raincoat. I’m talking Gore-Tex or heavy-duty rubber.
Layering is the secret sauce. Since the temperature doesn't swing wildly, you just need a base layer to wick away sweat and a solid shell to keep the Pacific out. Footwear is non-negotiable. If you aren't wearing waterproof boots, you’re going to have a bad time.
Best Time to Visit
If you want the best odds of seeing the sun, aim for July or August. These are the "driest" months, though "dry" is a relative term. You might only get 16 days of rain instead of 24.
👉 See also: The Great Salt Lake of Utah: Why We Are Actually Worried About It
The cruise ships love this window. In 2025, Prince Rupert saw record-breaking passenger volumes, proving that people are willing to risk a little mist for the chance to see whales and grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.
The Seasonal Breakdown
- Spring (March - May): The moss turns vibrant. It’s still quite wet, but the days are getting longer. Expect highs around 9°C.
- Summer (June - August): The "Clearer" season. You get about a 40% chance of a clear sky on any given day. Perfect for fishing or hiking the Butze Rapids trail.
- Fall (September - November): This is the storm season. It gets windy. It gets very wet. October is statistically the rainiest month, often seeing over 370 mm of precipitation in a bad year.
- Winter (December - February): Grey. Very grey. But again, it stays above freezing most of the time. You’ll get the occasional "Arctic Outflow" where it drops to -10°C, but that’s the exception, not the rule.
Actionable Insights for Travelers
If you are heading to Prince Rupert, check the Environment Canada marine forecast, not just the standard city forecast. The weather is driven by the water.
- Download a Radar App: Seeing the rain cells moving in off the Hecate Strait gives you a 20-minute heads-up to get inside.
- Embrace the Indoors: When it really pours, head to the Museum of Northern BC. It’s world-class and, more importantly, it has a roof.
- Drive for the Sun: Sometimes, if it’s socked in at Rupert, you can drive 45 minutes inland toward Terrace and find blue skies. The mountains trap the clouds at the coast, creating a "rain shadow" effect further east.
Prince Rupert BC weather isn't something you fight; it's something you wear. Once you stop trying to stay perfectly dry, you'll realize the rain is what makes the North Coast one of the most beautiful, rugged places on the planet.
Check the local tide tables alongside the weather report before heading to the waterfront. High tides during a storm surge can significantly change where you can safely walk along the shoreline.