Climate - Yellowknife (Canada)

The climate of Yellowknife is cold continental, with long, freezing winters and mild summers.
The city is the capital of the Northwest Territories, and is located at the 62nd parallel north, on the shores of the Great Slave Lake.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature can drop to -40 °C (-40 °F) or even below. In February 1947, it went down to -51 °C (-60 °F).
On the hottest days of the year, it can reach 28/30 °C (82/86 °F). The highest record is 32.6 °C (90.7 °F) and was set in August 2021.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -24.6 °C (-12.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 17.4 °C (63.3 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 290 millimeters (11.4 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest month (April) to 40 mm (1.6 in) in the wettest ones (July, August). On average, 158 cm (62 in) of snow fall per year, from September to May. Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,255 sunshine hours per year. The amount of sunshine is good in spring and summer. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Yellowknife is summer, from June to August, since it is the mildest season.

Yellowknife - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Yellowknife is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -24.6 °C (-12 °F), with a minimum of -29 °C (-20.2 °F) and a maximum of -20.2 °C (-4.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -41 °C (-42 °F). However, it dropped to -45.8 °C (-50.4 °F) in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -7.5 °C (19 °F). However, it reached 2 °C (35.6 °F) in January 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In February, the weather in Yellowknife is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -21.8 °C (-7 °F), with a minimum of -26.8 °C (-16.3 °F) and a maximum of -16.8 °C (1.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -39 °C (-38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -45.8 °C (-50.4 °F) in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it reached 3.9 °C (39 °F) in February 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In March, the weather in Yellowknife is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -15.8 °C (4 °F), with a minimum of -22.1 °C (-7.8 °F) and a maximum of -9.5 °C (14.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -36.5 °C (-34 °F). However, it dropped to -43.3 °C (-45.9 °F) in March 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it reached 9.3 °C (48.7 °F) in March 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In April, the weather in Yellowknife is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -5.1 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -11.5 °C (11.2 °F) and a maximum of 1.4 °C (34.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -26 °C (-14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -37 °C (-34.6 °F) in April 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (53 °F). However, it reached 20.4 °C (68.7 °F) in April 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In May, the weather in Yellowknife is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of -0.1 °C (31.9 °F) and a maximum of 11.6 °C (52.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (15.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20 °C (-4 °F) in May 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) in May 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In June, the weather in Yellowknife is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) and a maximum of 19.6 °C (67.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in June 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 50 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 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Yellowknife is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.4 °C (72.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) in July 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In August, the weather in Yellowknife is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.4 °C (50.7 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (67 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In September, the weather in Yellowknife is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.2 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.5 °F) and a maximum of 12.2 °C (53.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.9 °C (14.2 °F) in September 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In October, the weather in Yellowknife is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.6 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -3.6 °C (25.6 °F) and a maximum of 2.4 °C (36.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13.5 °C (7.5 °F). However, it dropped to -25.6 °C (-14.1 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it reached 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In November, the weather in Yellowknife is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.3 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -16.4 °C (2.4 °F) and a maximum of -8.1 °C (17.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -30 °C (-22 °F). However, it dropped to -36 °C (-32.8 °F) in November 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it reached 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In December, the weather in Yellowknife is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -21.2 °C (-6 °F), with a minimum of -25.4 °C (-13.7 °F) and a maximum of -17 °C (1.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -38 °C (-36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -44.4 °C (-47.9 °F) in December 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it reached 2 °C (35.6 °F) in December 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 5 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 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 16% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).