Sachs Harbour (or Ikaahuk, Ikahuak) is a village of about 100 inhabitants, located in Canada, in the Northwest Territories, in the region 1, and at almost 72 degrees north latitude.
, in the southern part of which Sachs Harbour is located, is the westernmost of the Arctic islands of Canada. In the central-northern part of the island is the
is very low, since it amounts to around 140 millimetres (5.5 inches) per year, and only exceeds 20 mm (0.8 in) per month in August and September.
often occurs during the long winter, but the amount is so low that it is often not counted in the statistics. On average, around one meter (40 in) of snow falls per year, and the snow depth record in recent decades is 33 centimetres (13 inches).
of the year, which usually occur from January to March, the temperature drops to -40 °C (-40 °F) or below in most years. The coldest record is -52.2 °C (-62 °F), set in January 1975.
is able to increase the sensation of cold. The record
often forms. Sometimes there can be
, in which the temperature can exceed 15 °C (59 °F), and more rarely 20 °C (68 °F). The highest record is 24.2 °C (75.6 °F), set in July 1986.
at Sachs Harbour freezes from October, and thaws from June to September. Remember that, being salty, the sea freezes at about -2 °C (28.5 °F).
, in which the sun does not rise, and which goes from November 16 to January 24.
, during which the sun never sets, goes from May 8 to August 3. Before and after this period, the
, in which it does not get completely dark all night, go from April 5 to September 6.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-27.4 °C, with a minimum of
-31 °C and a maximum of
-23.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-39 °C. However, it dropped to
-46 °C in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-12.5 °C. However, it reached
-4.7 °C in January 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.8 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very short.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 0% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-2 °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
-27.8 °C, with a minimum of
-31.2 °C and a maximum of
-24.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-40 °C. However, it dropped to
-45 °C in February 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-14.5 °C. However, it reached
-8 °C in February 2006.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.3 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are short.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 15% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-26.4 °C, with a minimum of
-29.9 °C and a maximum of
-22.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-39.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-46.5 °C in March 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-11.5 °C. However, it reached
-3.2 °C in March 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-17.2 °C, with a minimum of
-20.7 °C and a maximum of
-13.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-31.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-43 °C in April 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-4 °C. However, it reached
5.4 °C in April 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.4 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6.6 °C, with a minimum of
-9.4 °C and a maximum of
-3.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.5 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4.5 °C. However, it reached
10 °C in May 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.4 °C, with a minimum of
0.4 °C and a maximum of
6.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.2 °C in June 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
19.5 °C in June 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.4 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the least cold month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.5 °C, with a minimum of
3.2 °C and a maximum of
9.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in July 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
24 °C in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
14.2 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.4 °C, with a minimum of
1.5 °C and a maximum of
7.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11 °C in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
23.2 °C in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
25.5 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.6 °C, with a minimum of
-2.8 °C and a maximum of
1.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-19.5 °C in September 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
15 °C in September 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
21.2 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 19% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-9.2 °C, with a minimum of
-12.1 °C and a maximum of
-6.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-22.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-35.5 °C in October 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
0 °C. However, it reached
4 °C in October 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
17.7 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 10 minutes.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 14% of the time.
The average humidity is 90%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-18.6 °C, with a minimum of
-22.1 °C and a maximum of
-15.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-32 °C. However, it dropped to
-41.5 °C in November 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-6.5 °C. However, it reached
-0.5 °C in November 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.5 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 1 hour and 35 minutes. So the days are very short.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 0% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-25.1 °C, with a minimum of
-28.5 °C and a maximum of
-21.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-36.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-41.8 °C in December 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-10.5 °C. However, it reached
-5.5 °C in December 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
-2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.