December is one of the cooler months of the year in Yellowknife, with average highs near -24.5°C and lows around -31.9°C (mean -28.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 20 mm of rainfall and 95% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Yellowknife. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Yellowknife was 2006 — when the month averaged -19.7°C — while the coldest was 1984 at -38.7°C. Typical December days reach -24.5°C with nights near -31.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Yellowknife, averaging 20 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1987 with 36 mm, while the driest was 1983 at 7 mm.
Relative humidity in Yellowknife during December averages 95%. The most humid December was 2001 at 97%, and the least humid was 2019 at 93%.
December receives about 0.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Yellowknife. The sunniest Decembers were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.1.
Average wind speed in Yellowknife during December is 3 m/s. The windiest December was 1994 at 3.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2013, 2019 and 2020 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -29.2°C | -28.2°C | -27.1°C | -28.0°C | -28.7°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg High | -25.5°C | -24.3°C | -23.6°C | -24.5°C | -25.0°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Low | -32.9°C | -32.2°C | -30.6°C | -31.6°C | -32.3°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 20 mm | 22 mm | 20 mm | 18 mm | 19 mm | -1 mm |
December temperatures in Yellowknife have risen by about 2.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -56.7°C (1984) to a record high of -0.2°C (2023).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 20 mm, with a wettest year of 36 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0.4°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Yellowknife
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Yellowknife. That said, December — with days averaging -24.5°C and nights around -31.9°C (mean -28.2°C) and low rainfall (20 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -30.9°C | -34.6°C | -38.3°C | -22.3°C | -50.3°C | 12 mm | 95% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 2024 | -21.8°C | -25.0°C | -28.1°C | -11.0°C | -42.8°C | 30 mm | 94% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2023 | -17.2°C | -21.6°C | -25.9°C | -0.2°C | -38.8°C | 22 mm | 95% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2022 | -28.2°C | -31.8°C | -35.4°C | -3.4°C | -47.6°C | 17 mm | 96% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2021 | -28.7°C | -32.2°C | -35.7°C | -14.5°C | -48.3°C | 18 mm | 95% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2020 | -23.3°C | -26.8°C | -30.3°C | -3.6°C | -49.6°C | 18 mm | 95% | 2.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2019 | -28.0°C | -31.7°C | -35.3°C | -15.6°C | -48.3°C | 17 mm | 93% | 2.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2018 | -20.4°C | -23.6°C | -26.8°C | -5.9°C | -43.6°C | 14 mm | 97% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2017 | -23.4°C | -26.9°C | -30.5°C | -14.3°C | -43.7°C | 19 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2016 | -25.2°C | -29.3°C | -33.4°C | -10.3°C | -42.2°C | 14 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2015 | -21.1°C | -24.0°C | -26.8°C | -6.5°C | -42.5°C | 21 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2014 | -23.2°C | -26.8°C | -30.5°C | -15.7°C | -42.2°C | 29 mm | 96% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2013 | -31.7°C | -35.3°C | -39.0°C | -17.8°C | -50.1°C | 12 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2012 | -27.5°C | -30.8°C | -34.0°C | -19.4°C | -41.4°C | 15 mm | 96% | 2.8 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2011 | -20.8°C | -25.2°C | -29.6°C | -6.7°C | -42.4°C | 18 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2010 | -23.3°C | -26.8°C | -30.2°C | -12.8°C | -48.2°C | 18 mm | 96% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2009 | -26.6°C | -30.5°C | -34.3°C | -8.5°C | -52.5°C | 16 mm | 95% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2008 | -29.6°C | -33.4°C | -37.1°C | -13.5°C | -46.8°C | 10 mm | 95% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2007 | -25.2°C | -28.5°C | -31.8°C | -14.5°C | -43.6°C | 21 mm | 96% | 2.8 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2006 🔥 | -16.0°C | -19.7°C | -23.5°C | -1.0°C | -44.6°C | 9 mm | 97% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2005 | -18.3°C | -20.8°C | -23.3°C | -11.6°C | -33.6°C | 28 mm | 96% | 2.8 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2004 | -28.3°C | -32.3°C | -36.2°C | -15.1°C | -47.2°C | 21 mm | 94% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2003 | -19.3°C | -22.8°C | -26.3°C | -5.6°C | -40.0°C | 29 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2002 | -19.1°C | -22.5°C | -25.8°C | -5.4°C | -40.2°C | 25 mm | 97% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2001 | -22.9°C | -26.3°C | -29.8°C | -6.2°C | -38.4°C | 27 mm | 97% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2000 | -30.3°C | -34.1°C | -38.0°C | -13.6°C | -48.4°C | 17 mm | 95% | 2.8 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1999 | -21.7°C | -26.2°C | -30.7°C | -0.6°C | -44.3°C | 30 mm | 96% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1998 | -22.6°C | -26.3°C | -30.0°C | -8.9°C | -46.7°C | 19 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1997 | -20.0°C | -23.6°C | -27.2°C | -8.1°C | -49.3°C | 15 mm | 96% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1996 | -25.1°C | -29.1°C | -33.1°C | -11.7°C | -47.9°C | 11 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1995 | -26.0°C | -29.1°C | -32.3°C | -16.3°C | -44.6°C | 30 mm | 94% | 3.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1994 | -21.2°C | -25.5°C | -29.8°C | -4.4°C | -48.3°C | 19 mm | 96% | 3.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1993 | -24.7°C | -28.5°C | -32.3°C | -14.5°C | -44.7°C | 23 mm | 95% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1992 | -27.1°C | -30.8°C | -34.4°C | -3.6°C | -49.8°C | 16 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1991 | -24.3°C | -28.6°C | -32.9°C | -5.6°C | -45.9°C | 25 mm | 96% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1990 | -29.9°C | -34.8°C | -39.7°C | -9.4°C | -51.2°C | 34 mm | 95% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1989 | -27.5°C | -31.7°C | -35.9°C | -8.2°C | -46.4°C | 30 mm | 94% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1988 | -24.6°C | -28.3°C | -32.0°C | -0.8°C | -47.4°C | 9 mm | 96% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1987 🌧️ | -17.9°C | -20.7°C | -23.4°C | -8.4°C | -34.6°C | 36 mm | 97% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1986 | -19.9°C | -23.5°C | -27.1°C | -9.2°C | -40.5°C | 30 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1985 | -23.8°C | -27.9°C | -32.0°C | -9.5°C | -44.6°C | 22 mm | 94% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1984 ❄️ | -34.3°C | -38.7°C | -43.2°C | -17.0°C | -56.7°C | 14 mm | 94% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1983 | -30.6°C | -34.5°C | -38.4°C | -7.8°C | -52.7°C | 7 mm | 94% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -28.0°C | -31.5°C | -35.1°C | -18.9°C | -49.5°C | 22 mm | 94% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -23.1°C | -26.0°C | -28.8°C | -11.3°C | -47.5°C | 11 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -24.5°C with lows near -31.9°C (mean -28.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 20 mm of rainfall in Yellowknife, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 36 mm in 1987.
The hottest December reached -0.2°C in 2023. The coldest dipped to -56.7°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.7°C. Daytime highs moved from -28°C to -25.4°C and overnight lows from -35.5°C to -32.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Yellowknife and one of the drier months, so plan for around -24.5°C daytime highs and -31.9°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Yellowknife, averaging -28.2°C.
For December in Yellowknife, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -24.5°C and lows of -31.9°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 95% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.5 m/s (1994).
The wettest December on record was 1987 with 36 mm. On average, December sees 20 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Yellowknife behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
