When to go · Yellowknife

Yellowknife in January

Great month. Inside Yellowknife's best window: Late Aug–mid-Apr for aurora; Jun–Aug for midnight sun, hiking and lake trips.

Key facts

Verdict: Great
Temperature: −22°C (−7°F)−7°F (−22°C) / −29°C (−21°F)−21°F (−29°C); average high / low
Rain days: 15
Crowds: Low; Canada overall
Prices: Low; Canada overall

Plan around it

Verdict

GreatBest and avoid months for Yellowknife

Inside Yellowknife's best window: Late Aug–mid-Apr for aurora; Jun–Aug for midnight sun, hiking and lake trips.

No other month rates higher than January for Yellowknife in this guide.

Long-term averages

YellowknifeHighs around -21.6 °C (−7 °F), lows around -29.4 °C (−21 °F), rain on about 15 daysHighs around −7 °F (-21.6 °C), lows around −21 °F (-29.4 °C), rain on about 15 days
The North, Canada · Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Dawson City, Iqaluitcool
Midnight sun in June–July; northern lights and −30 °C (−22 °F) from about November to March.Midnight sun in June–July; northern lights and −22 °F (−30 °C) from about November to March.

Canada overall: Deep cold east of the Rockies; ski season in Whistler and Banff; northern lights in Yellowknife.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Yellowknife, side by side.

First month

Second month

Verdict
Jan: Great
Feb: Great
Daytime high
Jan: -21.6 °C (−7 °F)−7 °F (-21.6 °C)
Feb: -18 °C (0 °F)0 °F (-18 °C)
Night low
Jan: -29.4 °C (−21 °F)−21 °F (-29.4 °C)
Feb: -27.4 °C (−17 °F)−17 °F (-27.4 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 15
Feb: 11 (better)
Crowds
Jan: Low
Feb: Low
Prices
Jan: Low
Feb: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 0
Feb: 0

January: Inside Yellowknife's best window: Late Aug–mid-Apr for aurora; Jun–Aug for midnight sun, hiking and lake trips.

February: Inside Yellowknife's best window: Late Aug–mid-Apr for aurora; Jun–Aug for midnight sun, hiking and lake trips.

Yellowknife: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.