From the 2001 Canadian census, the top 100 cities population were selected, based on population. This represents about 70% of the Canadian population. To be chosen for the list, a city had to have a population of at least 15,000 people, and an official weather station nearby where Environment Canada instruments are used and standard observing procedures followed. For cities without a complete weather observing program, one or more nearby weather stations were used to generate representative values for the area, where possible.

The Canadian “weather winners” listed here are compiled for 100 cities but they do not necessarily represent the extremes for the entire country. Quite likely, higher amounts of rainfall, colder temperatures and stronger winds have occurred in many smaller communities not included in the list of familiar locations. Often, small out-of-the-way places are the true weather champions in Canada. For example, Glacier National Park (Mt. Fidelity) BC with its 1471 cm of average annual snowfall, or Manyberries AB with 2568 sunshine hours annually, or St. Lawrence NF with 132 foggy days a year, are the true weather champions in these respective categories.