Geography and Climate
St. Catharines' climate is humid continental (Köppen borderline Dfa/Dfb) and can be considered a unique micro-climate because of the moderating influence of Lake Ontario/Lake Erie and the sheltering effect of the Niagara Escarpment to the south allowing for wineries to flourish. As a result, the city can record a large number of frost-free days and frequent thaws in the winter, although it sometimes receives heavy lake-effect snow during certain wind conditions, and micro cooling lakeside on some spring afternoons. The summer season is predominantly warm, sometimes hot, with an average high temperature of 27 °C (81 °F) in July, and humidity is often high. Summer thunderstorms are commonplace but generally less prevalent and less severe than further west in Southern Ontario due to the diminishing effect of the surrounding lakes.
| Climate data for St. Catharines Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Humidex | 20.8 | 20.2 | 29.3 | 34.5 | 40.5 | 44.5 | 46.1 | 45.9 | 42.0 | 33.8 | 27.1 | 25.0 | 46.1 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.5 (65.3) |
19.4 (66.9) |
26.7 (80.1) |
30.3 (86.5) |
32.4 (90.3) |
35.0 (95.0) |
37.4 (99.3) |
35.6 (96.1) |
33.3 (91.9) |
28.9 (84.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
21.9 (71.4) |
37.4 (99.3) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −0.5 (31.1) |
0.3 (32.5) |
5.4 (41.7) |
12.2 (54.0) |
19.4 (66.9) |
24.3 (75.7) |
27.1 (80.8) |
25.9 (78.6) |
21.5 (70.7) |
14.9 (58.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
2.4 (36.3) |
13.4 (56.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.1 (24.6) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
1.1 (34.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
21.8 (71.2) |
20.8 (69.4) |
16.6 (61.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
4.6 (40.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
8.8 (47.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −7.7 (18.1) |
−7.4 (18.7) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
2.1 (35.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
13.3 (55.9) |
16.4 (61.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
11.6 (52.9) |
5.6 (42.1) |
0.9 (33.6) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
4.2 (39.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −23.8 (−10.8) |
−25.7 (−14.3) |
−21.1 (−6.0) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
1.7 (35.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
2.6 (36.7) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−5 (23) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−22.5 (−8.5) |
−25.7 (−14.3) |
| Wind chill | −42 | −34.6 | −25.9 | −19.7 | −5.8 | 2.6 | 6.9 | 2.1 | −1.3 | −8.3 | −18.9 | −28 | −42 |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 63.1 (2.484) |
51.9 (2.043) |
67.9 (2.673) |
77.8 (3.063) |
74.9 (2.949) |
82.5 (3.248) |
73.6 (2.898) |
72.1 (2.839) |
91.5 (3.602) |
68.5 (2.697) |
75.5 (2.972) |
74.2 (2.921) |
873.6 (34.394) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 28.8 (1.134) |
26.1 (1.028) |
46.6 (1.835) |
70.2 (2.764) |
74.6 (2.937) |
82.6 (3.252) |
73.6 (2.898) |
72.1 (2.839) |
91.5 (3.602) |
68.5 (2.697) |
66.2 (2.606) |
44.9 (1.768) |
745.7 (29.358) |
| Snowfall cm (inches) | 38.7 (15.24) |
28.8 (11.34) |
20.5 (8.07) |
7.2 (2.83) |
0.3 (0.12) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.04) |
9.1 (3.58) |
31.9 (12.56) |
136.6 (53.78) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 16.6 | 14.0 | 13.5 | 13.6 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 10.9 | 12.0 | 13.8 | 15.4 | 151 |
| Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.6 | 5.2 | 8.9 | 12.0 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 11.4 | 8.1 | 115.4 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 12.6 | 10.1 | 6.3 | 2.5 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.13 | 3.2 | 9.8 | 44.6 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
The complex and extensive glacial history of the Niagara Peninsula has resulted in similarly complex soil stratigraphy in the area occupied by the city today. St. Catharines was once at the base of a glacial lake known as Glacial Lake Iroquois, which deposited thick layers of clay between the Escarpment and Lake Ontario. As a result of these factors, the city's soil is particularly conducive to fruit growing and is capable of producing grapes that are used to make award-winning wines. Three wineries operate in the city's west-end: Henry of Pelham Winery, Hernder Estates and Harvest Estates.
Since the opening of the first Welland Canal in 1829, the city has seen four different canal systems, whether modified or newly constructed, carved into its geographical landscape. The fourth and present-day canal forms the majority of the city's eastern boundary. The first three of the city's canals have largely been buried, portions of it beneath the present-day Highway 406 and Queen Elizabeth Way. Other remnants of the original canals can still be seen in various locations throughout the city, many of which are hidden within forested areas designated as city parks. There has been a growing movement in recent years to restore the original routing of the Welland Canal through the city. The restored waterway and locks would be open to pleasure craft and create a new tourist attraction within the city.
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