AI-generatedSydney, Nova Scotia at a glance
- Best time
- Aug
- Warmest month
- Aug · 22°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 19.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,770 h
- Rain a year
- 1,252 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−4 / UTC−3
- Elevation
- 6 m
Climate in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney, Nova Scotia has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. August is the warmest month with average highs of 22 °C, while February is the coolest at −1 °C. With around 1,770 hours of sunshine a year, Sydney, Nova Scotia is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 6.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: August
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 12°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
- Evening, 20:00: about 11°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
07:1618:17
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:57–07:57 · evening 17:36–18:35
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:46–06:57 · evening 18:35–18:47
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Sydney, Nova Scotia in October?
In October, Sydney, Nova Scotia is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 118 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 1 min07:16 – 18:17
- UV index
- 3 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 24 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 66 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−3America/Glace_Bay
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %18 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %50 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 11.4 – 13.6 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Sydney, Nova Scotia ranges from −0.4 °C in March to 19.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From November to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 18.2 and 20.1 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 1.4° | 0.4° | 2.4° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | −0.2° | −0.7° | 0.4° | cold |
| MarchMar | −0.4° | −1.0° | 0.2° | cold |
| AprilApr | 0.7° | −0.1° | 1.8° | cold |
| MayMay | 4.3° | 3.2° | 5.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 9.7° | 8.2° | 11.0° | cold |
| JulyJul | 16.0° | 14.7° | 17.3° | cold |
| AugustAug | 19.1° | 18.2° | 20.1° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 16.7° | 15.5° | 17.9° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 12.6° | 11.4° | 13.6° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 8.2° | 7.1° | 9.1° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 4.5° | 3.5° | 5.5° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.1 of 11.0 hours of daylight in Sydney, Nova Scotia, 37 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Sydney, Nova Scotia
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 3 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 9).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 45 min
- Fair skin
- about 60 min
- Light brown skin
- about 85 min
- Olive skin
- about 105 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Sydney, Nova Scotia: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Sydney, Nova Scotia has about 11 rainy days with 118 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Sydney, Nova Scotia
How breezy and how cloudy Sydney, Nova Scotia is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Sydney, Nova Scotia typically peaks at 24 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 66 % of the sky over Sydney, Nova Scotia: mostly cloudy, with about 4.1 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Sydney, Nova Scotia
How often the day gets hot in Sydney, Nova Scotia (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Sydney, Nova Scotia has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 13 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Sydney, Nova Scotia
When Sydney, Nova Scotia is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Sydney, Nova Scotia
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in February (−7°), the warmest in August (17°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to May, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 7 | 0° | −6° | 1.4° | 2.4 h | 13 | 120 |
| FebruaryFeb | 12 | −1° | −7° | −0.2° | 3.8 h | 11 | 113 |
| MarchMar | 15 | 1° | −5° | −0.4° | 5.0 h | 12 | 99 |
| AprilApr | 16 | 6° | 0° | 0.7° | 5.6 h | 13 | 103 |
| MayMay | 22 | 11° | 5° | 4.3° | 6.5 h | 11 | 75 |
| JuneJun | 23 | 17° | 10° | 9.7° | 6.8 h | 11 | 89 |
| JulyJul | 38 | 22° | 16° | 16.0° | 6.6 h | 11 | 85 |
| AugustAug | 48 | 22° | 17° | 19.1° | 6.7 h | 11 | 91 |
| SeptemberSep | 21 | 19° | 14° | 16.7° | 5.6 h | 10 | 100 |
| OctoberOct | 14 | 13° | 8° | 12.6° | 4.1 h | 11 | 118 |
| NovemberNov | 8 | 8° | 3° | 8.2° | 2.8 h | 13 | 126 |
| DecemberDec | 6 | 3° | −2° | 4.5° | 2.1 h | 14 | 134 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
46.14° N, 60.18° W · 6 m · America/Glace_Bay
Best time to visit Sydney, Nova Scotia
The best time to visit Sydney, Nova Scotia is in August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 19.1 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent from March to April and from November to January; the wettest month is December with 134 mm.
Sydney, Nova Scotia through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 1–11 °C by day
- Sea 2 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Sydney, Nova Scotia in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 17–22 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
Sydney, Nova Scotia in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 8–19 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
Sydney, Nova Scotia in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- -1–3 °C by day
- Sea 2 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 38 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Sydney, Nova Scotia for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Sydney, Nova Scotia: score 48 against 14. In August, days are 9 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 7 °C warmer in August. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 14 | 48better |
| Day high | 13° | 22° |
| Night low | 8° | 17° |
| Sea | 12.6° | 19.1° |
| Sunshine | 4.1 h | 6.7 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 11 | 11 |
| Rainfall | 118 mm | 91 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 5 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Mar – Apr, Nov – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Apr
Snow on 2 or more days
Sydney, Nova Scotia month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
7January0° · Sea 1° · 2 h
In January, Sydney, Nova Scotia is freezing cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sea averages 1.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 13 days, totalling 120 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in January12February-1° · Sea 0° · 4 h
In February, Sydney, Nova Scotia is freezing cold: daytime highs average −1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sea averages −0.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 11 days, totalling 113 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in February15March1° · Sea 0° · 5 h
In March, Sydney, Nova Scotia is freezing cold: daytime highs average 1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sea averages −0.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 12 days, totalling 99 mm. Snow falls on about 6 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in March16April6° · Sea 1° · 6 h
In April, Sydney, Nova Scotia is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 0.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 103 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in April22May11° · Sea 4° · 7 h
In May, Sydney, Nova Scotia is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 4.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 75 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in May23June17° · Sea 10° · 7 h
In June, Sydney, Nova Scotia is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 9.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 89 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in June38July22° · Sea 16° · 7 h
In July, Sydney, Nova Scotia is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 16.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 85 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in July48August22° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In August, Sydney, Nova Scotia is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 19.1 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 91 mm in total. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in August21September19° · Sea 17° · 6 h
In September, Sydney, Nova Scotia is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 100 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in September14October13° · Sea 13° · 4 h
In October, Sydney, Nova Scotia is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 118 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in October8November8° · Sea 8° · 3 h
In November, Sydney, Nova Scotia is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 126 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in November6December3° · Sea 5° · 2 h
In December, Sydney, Nova Scotia is freezing cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). The sea averages 4.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 14 days, totalling 134 mm. Snow falls on about 6 days. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in DecemberSydney, Nova Scotia compared
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Sydney vs. Charlottetown
In October the holiday weather in Sydney and Charlottetown is about equally good (score 14 vs. 14). During the day it is about as warm in Charlottetown as in Sydney. The sea in Charlottetown is 1 °C warmer.
| in October | Sydney | Charlottetown |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 14 | 14 |
| Daytime high | 13° | 13° |
| Sea | 13° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 11 |
| Best time | Aug | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
Canada in October: the best places
In October, Sydney, Nova Scotia ranks 25 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Hamilton15°53
- 2Toronto14°52
- 3Niagara-on-the-Lake15°51
- 4Niagara Falls15°51
- 5London15°50
- 6Halifax14°14°49
- 7Collingwood (Blue Mountains)13°47
- 8Ottawa13°44
- 25SydneyThis page13°13°14
Planning a trip to Sydney, Nova Scotia
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Sydney, Nova Scotia in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Sydney, Nova Scotia has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 45) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 7).
- 16
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 4 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 22
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 5 °C
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 45
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
FairBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 14
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 4.1 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 7
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 1 °C by day
- Sea 3 °C
- 2.3 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 5 h 40 min
- Distance
- 4,290 km
- Time zone
- UTC−3
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (4 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Sydney, Nova Scotia
When is the best time to visit Sydney, Nova Scotia?
The best time to visit Sydney, Nova Scotia is in August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Sydney, Nova Scotia?
The sea temperature in Sydney, Nova Scotia ranges from −0.4 °C in March to 19.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Sydney, Nova Scotia in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 12.6 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Sydney, Nova Scotia?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C and nights around 17 °C. February is the coolest month at −1 °C.
When does it rain most in Sydney, Nova Scotia?
Rain is most frequent from March to April and from November to January; the wettest month is December with 134 mm. The driest month is May with 75 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Sydney, Nova Scotia get?
Sydney, Nova Scotia gets around 1,770 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 6.8 hours a day; in December there are 2.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Sydney, Nova Scotia in?
Sydney, Nova Scotia uses the time zone America/Glace_Bay: UTC−4 in January and UTC−3 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Sydney, Nova Scotia?
A nonstop flight from London to Sydney, Nova Scotia takes about 5 h 40 min, for a straight-line distance of about 4,290 km.
Which school holidays are best for Sydney, Nova Scotia?
Sydney, Nova Scotia has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 45) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 7). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 16, May half-term 22, Summer holidays 45, October half-term 14, Christmas holidays 7.
Near Sydney, Nova Scotia
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Sydney, Nova Scotia
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Sydney, Nova Scotia's – good alternatives.