Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay) is a city of 7,500 inhabitants located in northeastern Canada, in the territory of Nunavut, of which it is the capital and the main city, in the Qikiqtaaluk region, on the southern coast of Baffin Island, and at almost 64 degrees north latitude.
is quite scarce, since it amounts to 360 millimeters (14 inches) per year. It is relatively more abundant from June to September, which is also the only time when the average temperature exceeds freezing, and therefore it usually rains rather than snows. In the long cold season, snowfalls occur frequently, but are generally not abundant.
fall annually. It usually snows from October to May, but sometimes it can also snow in June and September.
of the year, the temperature drops to -35 °C (-31 °F) or below every year. The coldest record is -45.6 °C (-50.1 °F), set in February 1967 and in February 1986.
is cold for the latitude, due to the coastal location and to the Baffin Island Current, which then continues south as Labrador Current. Fog can sometimes form.
, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 20 °C (68 °F), and occasionally 25 °C (77 °F). The highest record is 26.8 °C (80.2 °F), set in July 2008.
, since we are south of the Arctic Circle, the sun rises even on the shortest days of the year, and sets on the longest.
, when it is not completely dark all night, occur from April 29 to August 14.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-26 °C, with a minimum of
-29.9 °C and a maximum of
-22 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-38 °C. However, it dropped to
-44.9 °C in January 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-7.5 °C. However, it reached
2.5 °C in January 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
16.3 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 18% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
16.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-27 °C, with a minimum of
-31 °C and a maximum of
-22.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-38.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-44.7 °C in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-9 °C. However, it reached
5.7 °C in February 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
14 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
15.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-22.4 °C, with a minimum of
-27.2 °C and a maximum of
-17.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-37 °C. However, it dropped to
-44.7 °C in March 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-4.5 °C. However, it reached
4.2 °C in March 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
21.4 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
16.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-13.5 °C, with a minimum of
-18.1 °C and a maximum of
-8.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-28 °C. However, it dropped to
-33.5 °C in April 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
0.5 °C. However, it reached
6.9 °C in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
22.7 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-3.2 °C, with a minimum of
-6.1 °C and a maximum of
-0.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-22.3 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6 °C. However, it reached
12.1 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
21 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-0.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.8 °C, with a minimum of
0.7 °C and a maximum of
7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.2 °C in June 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
22.7 °C in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
48.7 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the least cold month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8.1 °C, with a minimum of
4.2 °C and a maximum of
12 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.2 °C in July 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
26.8 °C in July 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
39.8 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.4 °C, with a minimum of
3.8 °C and a maximum of
11.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.6 °C in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
25.5 °C in August 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
61.7 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.9 °C, with a minimum of
0.2 °C and a maximum of
5.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.6 °C in September 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11.5 °C. However, it reached
18.4 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
50.8 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-3.2 °C, with a minimum of
-5.8 °C and a maximum of
-0.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.6 °C in October 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5 °C. However, it reached
9.1 °C in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
30.2 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 17% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-11.1 °C, with a minimum of
-14.7 °C and a maximum of
-7.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-25.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-33.9 °C in November 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
1 °C. However, it reached
5 °C in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
18.5 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are short.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 18% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-0.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-18.8 °C, with a minimum of
-23 °C and a maximum of
-14.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-33 °C. However, it dropped to
-43.4 °C in December 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-2.5 °C. However, it reached
3.8 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
16.2 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 9% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-0.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.