Rivière-au-Tonnerre has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with mild summers, rainy autumns and long, cold and snowy winters with annual snowfall averaging 99 inches (251 cm).

Winter typically starts in late October or early November and lasts through most of, if not all of April.List of former mayors:[15] The Saint-Hippolyte Roman Catholic church[17] makes Rivière-au-Tonnerre famous.

[16] The religious building was built between 1905 and 1912, according to the plans of Eudist Father Joseph Hesry from Normandy, the architectural style was inspired by his native region, in France.

[18] In 1990, the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada rebuilt the Fishermen's Wharf by the Grandmont Bridges and Viaducts Company at a cost of $1,509,000 CAD.

In winter, harsh weather conditions, combined with ice, block access to the sea, and the mission, for months.

With its many lakes and rivers, Côte-Nord shore offered landing pads for seaplanes in the summer and ski-equipped aircraft in the winter.

Rivière-au-Tonnerre was serviced by planes belonging to the company Les Ailes du Nord et Pacifique Canadienne.