 The main factors influencing Nova Scotia's climate are:  The effects of the westerly winds.  The interaction between three main air masses which converge on the east coast  Nova Scotia's location on the routes of the major eastward-moving storms.  The influence of the Atlantic Ocean creates a cool and damp climate.

CLIMATE IN ATLANTIC CANADA  Our region features one of the most rugged and most variable climates anywhere in the country.  In winter, temperatures can vary wildly as Arctic air is replaced by maritime air from passing storms.  Snowfall is relatively heavy, and fog is often present in spring and at the onset of summer.  July is the warmest month with an average temperature of 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.

CLIMATE IN ATLANTIC CANADA  We experience long, mild winters (averaging about -4°C in January) and cool summers (the mean daily July temperature is 18°C).  Coastal communities are generally several degrees warmer in winter and slightly cooler in summer.  During late spring and early summer, the mixing of the cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream produces frequent banks of sea fog over coastal areas.

 Fall and winter storms, arriving in or near Nova Scotia from the U.S. Northeastern and New England states (called "nor'easters" in the US), often attain tremendous intensity across coastal areas, resulting in high winds, heavy rain, ice or snow and sometimes all of the above in a single storm.

 Nova Scotia juts out into the Atlantic so it is prone to intense cold-season storms ("nor'easters" - primarily November to March)  They arrivive from the Northeastern United States.  Occasional tropical storms and hurricanes occur in late summer and autumn.hurricanes  (However due to the relatively cooler waters off the coast of Nova Scotia, tropical storms are usually weak by the time they reach Nova Scotia.)