Our verdict
The best time to visit Yellowknife is October-November
In the height of summer, temperatures in Yellowknife can reach a maximum of 24℃ (75℉). In the colder months such as January, temperatures usually get down to an average minimum of -25℃ (-13℉).
The longest days between sunrise and sunset in Yellowknife are usually in June, so if you want to get the most out of your daytime activities, be sure to plan your visit around this time. To stay dry, avoid travelling to Yellowknife in August – It’s the wettest month of the year.
Find out everything you need to know about when to visit Yellowknife below, including detailed information about the weather and tools to help you find the best prices and book your trip.
Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / Monthly climate / FAQs / Map
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Yellowknife seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Yellowknife as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Yellowknife is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn/fall | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
| Spring | March to May |
Average temperatures in Yellowknife
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Yellowknife for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Yellowknife climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Yellowknife for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Yellowknife in January
- Average temperature: -22℃ (-7℉)
- Average high temperature: -19℃ (-2℉)
- Average low temperature: -25℃ (-13℉)
- Average humidity: 97%
- Average sunny days: 18 days
- Average rainfall: 10mm (0") over 1 days
- Average snow days: 15 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Yellowknife in February
- Average temperature: -21℃ (-5℉)
- Average high temperature: -17℃ (2℉)
- Average low temperature: -25℃ (-12℉)
- Average humidity: 97%
- Average sunny days: 18 days
- Average rainfall: 4mm (0") over 0 days
- Average snow days: 12 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in February, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Yellowknife in March
- Average temperature: -15℃ (5℉)
- Average high temperature: -11℃ (12℉)
- Average low temperature: -19℃ (-2℉)
- Average humidity: 96%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 8mm (0") over 3 days
- Average snow days: 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in March, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Yellowknife in April
- Average temperature: -6℃ (21℉)
- Average high temperature: -3℃ (27℉)
- Average low temperature: -10℃ (15℉)
- Average humidity: 89%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 11mm (0") over 5 days
- Average snow days: 12 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in April, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Yellowknife in May
- Average temperature: 6℃ (42℉)
- Average high temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average low temperature: 2℃ (35℉)
- Average humidity: 63%
- Average sunny days: 21 days
- Average rainfall: 13mm (1") over 6 days
- Average snow days: 3 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in May, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Yellowknife in June
- Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
- Average high temperature: 18℃ (65℉)
- Average low temperature: 10℃ (49℉)
- Average humidity: 52%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 23mm (1") over 10 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in June, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Yellowknife in July
- Average temperature: 16℃ (62℉)
- Average high temperature: 21℃ (69℉)
- Average low temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
- Average humidity: 58%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 26mm (1") over 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in July, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
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Yellowknife in August
- Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
- Average high temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
- Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average humidity: 67%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 37mm (1") over 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in August, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Yellowknife in September
- Average temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average high temperature: 11℃ (51℉)
- Average low temperature: 5℃ (41℉)
- Average humidity: 74%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 21mm (1") over 10 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in September, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
Yellowknife in October
- Average temperature: -1℃ (31℉)
- Average high temperature: 1℃ (34℉)
- Average low temperature: -2℃ (28℉)
- Average humidity: 84%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 19mm (1") over 5 days
- Average snow days: 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in October, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Yellowknife in November
- Average temperature: -11℃ (12℉)
- Average high temperature: -9℃ (15℉)
- Average low temperature: -14℃ (7℉)
- Average humidity: 93%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 16mm (1") over 1 days
- Average snow days: 20 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in November, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Yellowknife in December
- Average temperature: -19℃ (-3℉)
- Average high temperature: -17℃ (2℉)
- Average low temperature: -22℃ (-8℉)
- Average humidity: 97%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 12mm (0") over 1 days
- Average snow days: 19 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Yellowknife in December, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
Add visitor or local insider tips >
