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Climate Eastern Newfoundland has a moderate four-season climate. The cold Labrador Current and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream meet on the Grand Banks in the North Atlantic just off the coast of Newfoundland.
With our location in the middle of the North Atlantic one can experience extremes of ‘weather’ in a short period of time. In fact, locals will tell you that if you don’t like the weather, just “wait a minute, it will change”. Surprising to many is the fact that St. John’s has the third most temperate climate of all cities in Canada (behind Victoria and Vancouver).
Summer days in the city and region are usually warm and we normally have an ocean breeze. We seldom experience the humidity that goes with summer heat in central Canada or the north-eastern United States. Summer evenings can be cool; carrying a sweater is a good idea.
Average Temperatures St. John’s and the Eastern region enjoy a temperate marine climate with few extremes in temperature.| April & May | The snow is disappearing and the sun is warm.
Day 0 to 15 C/32 to 59F
Night -5 to 0 C/23 to 32 F | | | June | Pleasant and sunny. A little cool for swimming.
Day 10 to 20 C/50 to 68 F
Night 0 to 10 C/32 to 50 F | | | July & August | Enjoy your usual summer activities without the humidity.
Day 20 to 30 C/68 to 86 F
Night 15 to 20 C/59 to 68 F | | | September & October | Pleasant daytime temperatures. Moderate to cool evenings.
Day 10 to 20 C/50 to 69 F
Night 0 to 5 C/32 to 59 F | | | November & December | Generally cool, possibility of intermittent snow.
Day -2 to 10 C/28 to 50 F
Night -8 to 0 C/18 to 32 F | | | January, February & March | Generally cold with regular snow.
Day -10 to -5 C/14 to 23 F
Night -20 to -5C/-4 to 23 F |
Suggested Wardrobe Summer
For the city, pack lightweight clothing with a sweater, raincoat or light topcoat for cooler evening temperatures (temperatures by the ocean are usually a little cooler). To enjoy the many outdoor activities and natural beauty of Eastern Newfoundland, we recommend good walking or hiking shoes.
Spring and Fall
Weather during these in-between seasons can be unpredictable. A warm jacket and clothing that can be layered is recommended.
Winter
During the winter months a warm coat, boots, gloves and a hat are a necessity.
Temperature
Canada uses the Celsius temperature scale where the freezing point of water = 0°C.
To convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit:
F = (1.8 x C) + 32
C = (F-32) x 0.55
2008 Canadian (St. John’s) Holidays | New Year’s Day | Jan. 1/td> | | | St. Patrick’s Day | March 17 | | | Good Friday | March 21 | | | Victoria Day | May 19 | | | Canada Day | July 1 | | | Regatta Day (St. John’s Only) | Aug. 6 | | | Labour Day | Sept. 1 | | | Thanksgiving Day | Oct. 13 | | | Remembrance Day | Nov. 11 | | | Christmas Day | Dec. 25 | | | Boxing Day | Dec. 26 |
Some dates may vary.
Currency & Banking Canadian dollars and cents form the monetary system in Canada. Although the operators of many retail outlets, restaurants and other venues may accept American money, we recommend that visitors exchange their cash for Canadian currency before they leave home. There is no currency exchange house in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Some banks charge a fee to cash traveller’s cheques. Normal banking hours are typically Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with extended hours at some locations. Automated teller machines (ATM) marked with the Plus or Interact symbol will accept automated banking cards from outside Canada. Banks charge a fee for international transactions.
Each bank sets an exchange rate. Most venues will accept major national or international credit cards for payment.
Downtown Banks Bank of Montreal
238 Water Street
Tel: 709.758.2055
Bank of Nova Scotia/Scotiabank
Scotia Centre, 245 Water Street
Tel: 709.576.6000
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Atlantic Place, Water Street
Tel: 709.576.8800
Hong Kong Bank of Canada (HSBC)
205 Water Street
Tel: 709.722.8000
Royal Bank of Canada
226 Water Street
Tel: 709-..4222
TD Canada Trust
TD Place, 140 Water Street
Tel: 709.758.5000
Duty-Free Shopping A duty-free shop is located at the St. John’s International Airport to sell tax-free items to departing international visitors. Please check with custom officials for questions regarding restrictions, licenses or controls.
Health Insurance Visitors to Canada should obtain travelers’ health insurance before leaving home. Most health insurance coverage does not extend outside the country of residence. Visitors may find they have either no health insurance or inadequate coverage in Canada. Daily rates for hospital care can vary from hospital to hospital and from province to province, but a hospital stay can cost in excess of $750 per day. Visitors requiring prescription medication should bring a copy of the prescription for renewal in Canada.
Hospital & Medical Insurance Canadian hospitals and medical services are excellent. Newfoundland hospitals will not refuse treatment to those requiring care, regardless of their financial status or health care coverage. For emergencies dial “911” in St. John’s or the RCMP at 1-800-709-7267 for provincial-wide emergencies.
City hospitals are as follows:
Health Science Centre
Prince Philip Parkway
St. John’s
Tel: 709.777.3600
Janeway Child Health Centre
Prince Philip Parkway
St. John’s
Tel: 709.777.6300
Emergency: 709.777.4575
St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital
154 LeMarchant Road
St. John’s
Tel: 709.777.5000
Emergency: 709-777-5501
Liquor Laws The legal minimum age to purchase or consume alcohol in Newfoundland and Labrador is 19. Most clubs and lounges in the city of St. John’s are open until 3 am (based on customer volume).
Traffic Regulations The use of seat belts is mandatory in Newfoundland & Labrador for drivers and all passengers. A child weighing less than 9 kg must be secured in either an infant carrier or a convertible car seat adjusted to the rear-facing position. Radar detectors are illegal. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol limit exceeding .05 milligrams of alcohol per litre of blood. The use of hand held cell phones by the driver of a vehicle, when driving, is prohibited.
Metric System Canada uses the metric system for weights, measure and distance.
How to Convert Between Metric and Imperial
Distance/Speed
1 kilometer (km) = 5/8 mile
50 km-h on road signs = 30 mph
100 km-h on road sign = 60 mph
convert kilometres to miles:
km x .6 = approximate mileage
Buying Gas and Other Liquids
3.8 liters = 1 US gallon
litre milk = 1 quart
Weight
kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs
500 grams (g) = 1.1 lbs
convert kilograms to pounds multiply kg x 2.2 = lbs
convert grams to ounces multiply grams x .035 = ounces
Moose Approximately 125,000 moose inhabit the island of Newfoundland. Moose are dangerous to motorists. If you see one on or near the highway, slow down immediately and prepare to stop. Like all wild animals, moose are unpredictable. Avoid driving at night if possible, but if you must drive, slow down. Pay attention to warning signs. A road sign that says “Caution, Moose Next 11 Kilometers” means moose cross there frequently.
Pets & Animals Visitors may bring cats, dogs and horses to Newfoundland without a permit and they can be moved freely around the province. However, the importation of non-indigenous animals and the movement of Labrador Huskies from Labrador to Newfoundland is restricted. If you have any questions about bringing animals to the province please contact:
Animal Health Division
Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1E 3Y5
Tel: 709.729.6879
Note: There are no snakes, poison ivy or poison oak on the island of Newfoundland.
Soil & Plants Neither soil nor plants bearing soil may be removed from Newfoundland due to the possibility of accidentally spreading soil-borne diseases. Vehicles leaving Newfoundland are inspected at the ferry terminal and soil and plants are subject to confiscation. Special permits for removing plants under strict conditions may be obtained from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Telephone 709.227.2307 (Argentia) or 709.695.2135 (Port aux Basque) for further information.
Sales Tax A 13 per cent Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is applied to most goods and services in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Tourism Marketing Levy In the City of St. John’s only, there is a three per cent Tourism Marketing Levy Tax (TML) applied to all fixed roof accommodations. The tax is displayed on your room bill and is applied to the cost of the room only, not the room plus sales tax.
HST Rebate Non-Canadian visitors and businesses can apply for a refund of sales tax paid on certain items. A visitor can claim a refund on the HST paid on accommodations (not the 3% TML) – including campsites and associated hook-up charges – if you stayed for less than one month at each lodging establishment and the original receipt shows the number of nights of accommodations for each lodging. Room service and telephone are not eligible for the tax refund but if breakfast was included in the fixed price of your accommodations, apply for the tax you paid on the total fixed price.
To qualify for a refund on short-term accommodations and foods, the purchase amount before taxes must be at least $200 and you must have paid at least $50 in taxes. Generally, goods and services consumed or left in Canada are not eligible for a refund. If you claim a rebate on goods you export, you will have to provide proof of export.
To claim a refund, obtain a copy of the brochure Tax Refund for Visitors, which includes an application form. The brochure is available from the Visitor Information Centres in the province or from:
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Summerside Tax Centre
Suite 104, 275 Pope Road
Summerside, PE, Canada C1N 6C6
Phone: 1.800.668.4748 (within Canada)
902.432.5608 (Outside Canada)
Or visit www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca
Wheelchair Accessibility Establishments listed as “wheelchair accessible” meet the minimum requirements set out in the provincial Building Accessibility Act and Regulations. These establishments have a main entrance and, where provided, public washrooms that an individual in a wheelchair can access unassisted. Hotels/motels with the accessibility designations have a wheelchair accessible room or suite, but there are no guarantees wheelchair users could access all the establishment’s attractions.
Customs Information – Entry Regulations People visiting from other countries require a valid passport and possibly other documentation. Since obtaining travel documents outside Canada can take time, it is important to check with the nearest Canadian Consulate, Canadian Embassy or High Commission well in advance of a trip to Canada.
Traveling With Children Customs officials are on the lookout for missing children. Parents or guardians traveling with children require a proof of citizenship. If a child is traveling with one parent or guardian, a letter of consent from the absent parent(s) must accompany the child.
Alcoholic Beverages Visitors 19 years of age of older may bring into Newfoundland and Labrador, duty-free, either:- 1.1 liters (40 ounces) of liquor or wine, or
- 24 x 355 ml (12 fl oz.) cans or bottles of beer or ale of their equivalent (8.5 liters)
Duty and taxes, plus provincial fees at the port of entry, apply to any additional alcoholic beverages up to a maximum of nine liters.
Gifts Friends or relatives living in Canada may receive gifts, duty and tax free from visitors or by mail, if the value of each gift does not exceed $60 (Canadian funds). Tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or advertising material can not be sent as gifts.
Tobacco Products Persons 19 years of ago or over may bring into Newfoundland and Labrador duty-free 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes and 400 grams of manufactured tobacco. Federal duties and taxes apply to additional quantities.
Personal Baggage & Recreation Equipment Visitors can bring non-restricted sporting goods and personal baggage into Canada, duty and tax-free, by declaring them on arrival to customs officials. Register the serial numbers of equipment such as cameras, bicycles, etc. with Canada Customs.
Firearms Canada has strict laws regarding the possession and use of firearms. Before bringing guns to Canada for hunting purposes or competitions, please contact the Canadian Firearms Centre at 800-731-4000 (Canada and the US) or 506-624-5380 for other countries, to obtain the most up-to-date information on current legislation. Canadian law prohibits all handguns and fully automatic weapons from entry into Canada.
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