Climate Insights for Yellowknife

The climate in Yellowknife is cold. The average annual temperature is -3°C and approximately 273mm of precipitation falls per year. July is the wettest month, receiving around 43mm of rainfall. Yellowknife is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are February, January, December, when temperatures can drop to -28°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 95cm accumulating over the season.

Yellowknife has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 50°C from the coldest to warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 22°C with a mean of 17°C. February brings the harshest conditions, with lows dropping to -28°C and an average temperature of -25°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 8°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 13°C shift in average temperatures.

Yellowknife is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 273mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 23mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 43mm of rainfall. August and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 10mm. That's 33mm less than July, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 95cm accumulating over the season. November typically sees the most snow at around 21cm.

Yellowknife is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 3km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is September, averaging 4km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in February, with average winds dropping to 3km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 1km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Yellowknife, which began on June 21, 2026. Yellowknife is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 22°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near -28°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (14 days from now).

The best time to visit Yellowknife is during July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 16°C with modest rainfall averaging 42mm per month. By contrast, February can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -28°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Yellowknife based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.