Finally, after what has been called the coldest spring in 50 years, the weather has turned! We can feel it in the softest breeze and the evening calm; the chill has gone. Of course a cold Victoria spring is much less eventful than much of the spring weather across the country or in many parts of the world. People who are living in Victoria certainly appreciate the fact that our weather is rarely newsworthy, and that temperate summer weather means air conditioning is rarely needed.
Floods, tornadoes and wildfire have devastated many communities across North America this spring. And extreme weather issues continue to affect those unfortunate enough to live in certain areas, so it’s unseemly that we should complain the cherry blossoms were a few weeks behind schedule in Victoria this year.
Now we can feel that soft warmth in the air that means cold days are behind us, and we can get on with enjoying summer. June is a lovely month in Victoria, our gardens are lush and growing so quickly you can see changes every day. Our homegrown veggie gardens start to reward us with the best tasting fresh food, and for those who don’t (or can’t) have a garden, local farmer’s markets provide an amazing array of newly picked produce grown close to home.
People begin to live even more of their life in the great outdoors, now that it’s so comfortable outside. There are all sorts of outdoor activities that people who are living in Victoria enjoy, and the Greater Victoria area hosts a multitude of events and festivals through the summer months.
While much of North America shifts from freezing cold to blistering hot during summer, one of the best things about our summer weather is that it rarely gets uncomfortably hot. Temperatures pass the 30 degree celsius mark on just a few days each year, and it’s easy to avoid overheating by heading to the water. The moderating influence of the ocean keeps things cool and Victoria, perched on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island is bathed in cool marine air providing superb summer comfort.
While others swelter in summer heat over the next few months, or take refuge inside their air conditioned homes and offices, people who are living in Victoria will enjoy their summer comfortably on their patios, catching a concert at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, playing outdoor sports or maybe camping and hiking in nearby provincial parks and trails. Some of us get out on the water, fishing, sailing, waterskiing, kayaking, canoing, or just cruising. We are very fortunate that temperate summer weather makes Victoria a wonderful place to live.
