Geography and Climate

Geography
Situated on an island carved in rock, St. John's has a fascinating geographical layout. Known for being the most easterly city in North America, St. John's is structured around a cozy, sheltered harbour which acts as a gateway to the North Atlantic ocean.  Signal Hill overlooks the City and provides stunning views of the city, the coastline and the ocean. The downtown area is known for its steep hills and winding streets. On the coastline, the landscape is quite rugged with many cliffs and crevasses. St. John's has many hiking trails located within the city and coastal trails and lookout points carved into the seaside hills. The City of St. John's covers an area of 446.06 square kilometres while the St. John's metropolitan area covers an area of 804.65 square kilometres.

Climate
Nestled in a sheltered harbour, St. John's experiences the cool summer breezes and the winter snowfalls of a temperate marine climate. Mean daily temperatures range from 20°C (68°F) in the summer to -1°C (30°F) in the winter. The City's coastal location also means that  wind and fog are common. The wind-chill temperature in the winter months can be very cold and may reach  -20°C or below. Many are surprised to learn that St. John's has the third most temperate climate in Canada (behind Victoria and Vancouver). The weather pattern in St. John's is truly unique and you can often experience four seasons in one day.  St. John's natives however are proud of their climate, calling it character-building and invigorating. For further information on St. John's weather, please refer to Environment Canada or the Weather Network.