Yellowknife weather
11-year climate averages (2015–2025), month by month
Yellowknife in october
Current month averages, based on 11 complete years of records (2015–2025). Read the full guide →
Yellowknife sits at 62°27′N 114°22′W in Canada, in North America. Its climate profile is shaped by these coordinates — and the 11 complete years of records below (2015–2025) reveal exactly how each season feels on the ground.
Below, you'll find monthly averages for temperature, rainfall and sunshine, drawn from the Open-Meteo Archive. Every month links to a full guide with what to pack, where to stay, and when to arrive.
The year in weather
Yellowknife weather by month
Pick a month for the full climate guide — temperature, rainfall, sunshine, packing tips and hotel deals for Yellowknife.
Places that feel like Yellowknife in october
Yellowknife weather — FAQ
Q01When is the best time to visit Yellowknife?
When is the best time to visit Yellowknife?
The best months to visit Yellowknife are June, July, August. Aurora Season peaks mid-November through early April with 240 clear nights; Snowking Winter Festival on Great Slave Lake ice builds a full snow castle every March.
Q02What is the hottest month in Yellowknife?
What is the hottest month in Yellowknife?
July runs the highest averages in Yellowknife, with typical daytime highs of 22°C (71°F). July hits 22°C and locals swim at Long Lake or fly float planes to remote fishing camps; mosquitos peak simultaneously and require DEET above 30%.
Q03What is the coldest month in Yellowknife?
What is the coldest month in Yellowknife?
February brings the lowest averages, with daytime highs near -21°C (-5°F). January averages -27°C with -50°C wind chill possible; the ice road to Dettah across Great Slave Lake becomes a legal highway December to April.
Q04Which month has the most rain in Yellowknife?
Which month has the most rain in Yellowknife?
August typically records the highest monthly rainfall — around 46mm on average. August brings 40mm as fast thunderstorms; the Yellowknife River overflow floods Ndilo access road within hours.
Q05What is the climate like in Yellowknife?
What is the climate like in Yellowknife?
Yellowknife, Canada has mild summers, freezing winters. Old Town at Ragged Ass Road is where the 1930s gold rush shacks still house residents. Real bison burger lives at Bullocks Bistro in a 1940s houseboat that hasn't updated the menu in 30 years. Take the Ingraham Trail Highway 4 to Cameron Falls in winter — the frozen falls curtain is 60 feet tall. Sub-Arctic light means high sky brightness even at -40°C, and camera lenses fog within seconds of moving indoors. You can read the detailed month-by-month breakdown on this page.
