Yellowknife has a cold continental climate with warm summers and freezing winters.
Temperatures peak in July and drop to their lowest in January, while rainfall is highest during summer months.
Humidity remains high throughout the year, especially during winter months, creating cold and damp conditions.
| Month | 🌤️ | High | Low | Avg | Humid % | Rain (mm) | Wind (m/s) | Solar (kWh/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | ❄️ | -11.3°C | -47.8°C | -29.5°C | 95% | 20 | 3.0 | 0.25 |
| February | ❄️ | -8.4°C | -44.9°C | -26.7°C | 96% | 15 | 3.1 | 0.97 |
| March | ❄️ | -1.3°C | -39.1°C | -20.2°C | 95% | 21 | 3.3 | 2.64 |
| April | ❄️ | 6.5°C | -25.1°C | -9.3°C | 91% | 21 | 4.1 | 4.60 |
| May | 🌨️ | 19.9°C | -6.7°C | 6.6°C | 75% | 46 | 4.3 | 5.66 |
| June | 🌤️ | 25.3°C | 2.8°C | 14.0°C | 68% | 55 | 4.0 | 6.06 |
| July | ☀️ | 27.1°C | 7.6°C | 17.4°C | 64% | 57 | 3.7 | 5.38 |
| August | 🌤️ | 26.0°C | 3.8°C | 14.9°C | 69% | 52 | 3.8 | 4.10 |
| September | 🌨️ | 18.5°C | -2.7°C | 7.9°C | 78% | 43 | 4.1 | 2.50 |
| October | ❄️ | 6.8°C | -20.2°C | -6.7°C | 89% | 35 | 3.6 | 1.01 |
| November | ❄️ | -4.5°C | -38.1°C | -21.3°C | 95% | 25 | 2.9 | 0.30 |
| December | ❄️ | -10.0°C | -45.6°C | -27.8°C | 95% | 20 | 3.0 | 0.11 |
Showing average climate conditions across 45 years (1981–2025)
🧥 Pack heavy layers and prepare for snow — this is a Severe Winter destination.
🌤️ Conditions are ideal for outdoor activities throughout the day in this Mild Summer.
☔ Rainfall is spread across the year with no sharply defined wet season.
Monthly averages · 1981–2025 climate normals · °C
Temperatures rise steadily from spring, peak in July, and gradually decline through autumn into winter.
These seasonal patterns make summer ideal for outdoor activities, while winters bring freezing conditions and heavy snowfall.
Monthly rainfall · 1981–2025 seasonal trends · mm/month
Monthly averages · 1981–2025
💧 Humidity peaks at 96% in February · annual avg 84%
The warmest year in Yellowknife's recorded history was 2001 (avg: -4.4°C), while the coldest was 1982 (avg: -10.2°C).
Average annual high/low · Last 10 years · °C
Total annual precipitation · Last 10 years · mm/year
| Year | Min Temp | Avg Temp | Max Temp | Rainfall (mm) | Avg Humidity | Avg Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | -19.8°C | -5.9°C | 8.0°C | 396 | 85% | 3.5 m/s |
2024 | -19.7°C | -5.5°C | 8.7°C | 371 | 84% | 3.7 m/s |
2023 | -18.1°C | -4.9°C | 8.3°C | 353 | 83% | 3.6 m/s |
2022 | -21.6°C | -7.2°C | 7.2°C | 383 | 83% | 3.5 m/s |
2021 | -21.1°C | -6.9°C | 7.3°C | 389 | 86% | 3.6 m/s |
2020 | -21.4°C | -7.2°C | 6.9°C | 409 | 86% | 3.7 m/s |
2019 | -23.2°C | -8.3°C | 6.6°C | 440 | 87% | 3.5 m/s |
2018 🌧️ | -21.1°C | -7.3°C | 6.6°C | 591 | 87% | 3.6 m/s |
2017 | -19.5°C | -5.4°C | 8.7°C | 373 | 83% | 3.4 m/s |
2016 | -18.7°C | -5.0°C | 8.8°C | 366 | 83% | 3.5 m/s |
Showing 1 to 10 of 45 years
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Based on 45 years of data (1981–2025), July is typically the hottest month in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, with average high temperatures around 27.1°C.
January is the coldest month in Yellowknife, with average low temperatures around -47.8°C.
July receives the most rainfall with approximately 57 mm, while February is the driest with 15 mm.
The highest recorded temperature was 30.7°C in July 1996. This is part of the historical record spanning 1981–2025.
The lowest recorded temperature was -56.7°C in December 1984.
This page covers 45 years of climate data from 1981 to 2025. As new data is added to the database the page automatically reflects the updated coverage.
Yellowknife receives the most sunlight in June with an average solar radiation of 6.06 kWh/m²/day. This solar radiation data, sourced from NASA POWER, is useful for solar energy planning and agriculture in Northwest Territories.
All climate data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite and model data. It provides monthly averages for temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.
All weather data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources), a NASA project providing solar and meteorological data for renewable energy, building efficiency, and agricultural research.
