Nanaimo is located fairly far to the north, being around the 49th parallel. However, its proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes for a relatively mild climate, buffered by the winds and current. The weather is especially pleasant during the summer, when daytime temperatures reach a maximum of 21° to 24°C  (70° to 75°F ). In the evenings, though, you will probably need a sweater or thick jacket, as temperatures can dip into the 10-12°C range (low 50s). Summer is probably the best time to visit Nanaimo, since this is also the time of year with lowest rainfall. Although the climate is relatively mild year round- in fact it is been noted as having one of the mildest climates in all of Canada.

Winters are cool but rarely below freezing, averaging around 2° to 4°C (35° to 40°F). Snowfall is light, with the heaviest months of snow being December and January, each of which get around 30 cm (12 inches) a month. The amount of snow on the ground at any time, however, rarely exceeds 5 cm  (2 inches).

Rainfall is moderate, with an annual precipitation of around 100 cm (40 inches) per year. The majority of this falls between the months of October and March, which average 12-15 cm (5 or 6 inches) per month. Rain is much more scarce during the summer; between June and August, the city averages over 8 hours of sunshine a day. During the winter, this drops to about 2 hours daily.

For current weather conditions and forecast, including up-to-the-minute weather warnings, check out Environment Canada's Nanaimo weather page. This page is also available in imperial units (Fahrenheit degrees).

For detailed climate information, on a month-by-month basis, see Environment Canada's Nanaimo climate page.