Climate Insights for Wakkanai

The climate in Wakkanai is cool. The average annual temperature is 7°C and approximately 1182mm of precipitation falls per year. Wakkanai receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Wakkanai is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, September, July. The coldest months are February, January, December, when temperatures can drop to -6°C. Wakkanai experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

Temperatures in Wakkanai vary considerably across the year, with a 27°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 21°C with a mean of 20°C. The coldest month is February, when overnight lows fall to -6°C and the daily average is -4°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Wakkanai is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1182mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 99mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 156mm of rainfall. November and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 59mm. That's 97mm less than August, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Wakkanai receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 353cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is December, with approximately 89cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

Wakkanai is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 6km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 7km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 5km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 2km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Wakkanai, which began on June 21, 2026. Wakkanai 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 August at around 21°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near -6°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 91 days from now.

The best time to visit Wakkanai is during September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 100mm per month. By contrast, August can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 21°C, while February is the coldest period with lows dropping to -6°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Wakkanai 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.