October is one of the warmer months of the year in Yellowknife, with average highs near -1.8°C and lows around -7.3°C (mean -4.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 35 mm of rainfall and 89% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Yellowknife. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Octobers in Yellowknife were 2003 and 2021 — when the month averaged -0.2°C — while the coldest were 1991 and 2004 at -8.8°C. Typical October days reach -1.8°C with nights near -7.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
October is about average for rainfall in Yellowknife, averaging 35 mm of rainfall. The wettest Octobers on record were 1981 and 2000 with 59 mm, while the driest was 2016 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Yellowknife during October averages 89%. The most humid October was 1983 at 97%, and the least humid was 2016 at 85%.
October receives about 1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Yellowknife. The sunniest October was 1986 at 1.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2004, 2011 and 2016 at 0.8.
Average wind speed in Yellowknife during October is 3.6 m/s. The windiest October was 1984 at 4.3 m/s, while the calmest was 2016 at 2.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -5.2°C | -5.4°C | -4.6°C | -4.4°C | -2.1°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg High | -2.2°C | -2.5°C | -1.9°C | -1.6°C | 0.2°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg Low | -8.2°C | -8.4°C | -7.4°C | -7.2°C | -4.4°C | +3.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 40 mm | 38 mm | 34 mm | 29 mm | 32 mm | -8 mm |
October temperatures in Yellowknife have risen by about 4.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -32.7°C (1996) to a record high of 12.9°C (2008).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 35 mm, with a wettest year of 59 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.8°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A good time to visit Yellowknife
October is a good time to visit Yellowknife, with days averaging -1.8°C and nights around -7.3°C (mean -4.5°C, warmer than Yellowknife's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. July and August are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.1°C | -1.4°C | -3.8°C | 9.6°C | -12.3°C | 53 mm | 90% | 3.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2024 | -1.3°C | -3.8°C | -6.2°C | 5.9°C | -18.8°C | 28 mm | 90% | 3.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 1.6°C | -0.4°C | -2.3°C | 8.0°C | -15.9°C | 27 mm | 89% | 4 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 0.2°C | -2.5°C | -5.2°C | 12.3°C | -18.0°C | 34 mm | 86% | 4.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 1.7°C | -0.2°C | -2.1°C | 9.9°C | -10.1°C | 27 mm | 92% | 3.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | -2.4°C | -4.6°C | -6.7°C | 8.3°C | -18.6°C | 22 mm | 89% | 4.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2019 | -1.6°C | -4.2°C | -6.9°C | 8.2°C | -21.1°C | 28 mm | 92% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2018 | -3.5°C | -6.8°C | -10.0°C | 0.1°C | -13.7°C | 22 mm | 91% | 3.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2017 | -1.5°C | -4.6°C | -7.7°C | 6.1°C | -18.5°C | 16 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 1 |
| 2016 | -2.7°C | -5.4°C | -8.0°C | 3.1°C | -19.8°C | 15 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2015 | -2.8°C | -5.7°C | -8.7°C | 6.3°C | -22.4°C | 34 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2014 | -1.4°C | -4.0°C | -6.6°C | 4.1°C | -14.6°C | 21 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2013 | 0.6°C | -2.0°C | -4.6°C | 8.3°C | -21.0°C | 28 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2012 | -2.7°C | -5.2°C | -7.7°C | 9.5°C | -24.8°C | 45 mm | 89% | 3.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | -0.2°C | -2.6°C | -5.1°C | 6.3°C | -20.0°C | 36 mm | 91% | 3.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2010 | -0.3°C | -3.4°C | -6.4°C | 11.7°C | -15.6°C | 41 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2009 | -2.6°C | -5.0°C | -7.3°C | 6.4°C | -14.4°C | 20 mm | 88% | 3.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2008 | 0.6°C | -1.9°C | -4.4°C | 12.9°C | -19.6°C | 36 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | -0.9°C | -3.4°C | -5.8°C | 4.2°C | -20.0°C | 42 mm | 91% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2006 | -1.1°C | -4.1°C | -7.0°C | 7.6°C | -19.0°C | 16 mm | 87% | 3.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2005 | -1.2°C | -4.0°C | -6.9°C | 3.4°C | -18.0°C | 31 mm | 94% | 3.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | -5.5°C | -8.8°C | -12.1°C | 2.1°C | -23.2°C | 53 mm | 92% | 3.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2003 🔥 | 2.1°C | -0.2°C | -2.5°C | 12.8°C | -19.5°C | 26 mm | 90% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2002 | -4.7°C | -7.7°C | -10.6°C | 2.8°C | -19.2°C | 30 mm | 91% | 3.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | -1.7°C | -4.3°C | -7.0°C | 7.2°C | -16.6°C | 29 mm | 90% | 3.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2000 | -3.8°C | -7.0°C | -10.1°C | 1.6°C | -20.5°C | 59 mm | 96% | 3.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1999 | -2.5°C | -5.5°C | -8.5°C | 2.2°C | -18.0°C | 35 mm | 88% | 3.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1998 | 1.0°C | -1.7°C | -4.4°C | 8.2°C | -20.7°C | 49 mm | 88% | 3.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 | -5.1°C | -8.3°C | -11.6°C | 5.9°C | -27.4°C | 36 mm | 90% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1996 | -4.7°C | -8.5°C | -12.3°C | 3.4°C | -32.7°C | 21 mm | 88% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1995 | -1.3°C | -4.0°C | -6.8°C | 7.6°C | -23.5°C | 31 mm | 89% | 3.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1994 | 1.2°C | -1.3°C | -3.9°C | 7.7°C | -13.6°C | 53 mm | 89% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | -1.6°C | -4.4°C | -7.2°C | 4.9°C | -23.7°C | 28 mm | 90% | 3.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1992 | -2.7°C | -5.6°C | -8.5°C | 4.6°C | -16.7°C | 38 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 ❄️ | -6.1°C | -8.8°C | -11.6°C | 5.1°C | -27.7°C | 44 mm | 91% | 4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | -3.4°C | -6.4°C | -9.4°C | 7.8°C | -22.3°C | 48 mm | 88% | 3.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 | -1.0°C | -3.9°C | -6.8°C | 10.2°C | -23.7°C | 27 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1988 | -1.3°C | -4.1°C | -6.9°C | 12.6°C | -22.4°C | 33 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1987 | -0.7°C | -3.4°C | -6.2°C | 11.7°C | -16.8°C | 39 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1986 | -1.6°C | -4.0°C | -6.3°C | 4.2°C | -21.4°C | 22 mm | 88% | 3.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1985 | -3.4°C | -6.2°C | -9.0°C | 7.4°C | -22.2°C | 35 mm | 90% | 3.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1984 | -5.1°C | -7.9°C | -10.6°C | 4.3°C | -29.2°C | 50 mm | 87% | 4.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1983 | -4.5°C | -8.1°C | -11.7°C | 1.1°C | -20.2°C | 49 mm | 97% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -0.6°C | -4.0°C | -7.4°C | 7.5°C | -26.5°C | 42 mm | 88% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 🌧️ | -1.9°C | -5.2°C | -8.5°C | 10.1°C | -24.6°C | 59 mm | 89% | 4.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around -1.8°C with lows near -7.3°C (mean -4.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 35 mm of rainfall in Yellowknife, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 59 mm in 1981.
The hottest October reached 12.9°C in 2008. The coldest dipped to -32.7°C in 1996.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 4.6°C. Daytime highs moved from -3.1°C to 0.7°C and overnight lows from -9.4°C to -3.9°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Yellowknife and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -1.8°C daytime highs and -7.3°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 7th coolest month in Yellowknife, averaging -4.5°C.
For October in Yellowknife, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -1.8°C and lows of -7.3°C.
Relative humidity in October averages 89% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 3.6 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 4.3 m/s (1984).
The wettest October on record was 1981 with 59 mm. On average, October sees 35 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 October, 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 October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
