Season by season
Winter (November–March). Extreme cold and darkness in the high Arctic; aurora in Yellowknife, Churchill and Inuvik. Ice roads open. Few visitors beyond the gateways.
Spring (April–June). Returning sun on solid sea ice: the season for dog sledding, snowmobile travel and, in May and June, floe-edge wildlife. Festivals in many communities.
Summer (July–August). Tundra flowers, midnight sun north of the Circle, open highways, hiking in the parks and belugas at Churchill. Northwest Passage cruises begin in August.
Autumn (September–October). Brilliant tundra colour on the Dempster in late August and September, the last cruises, then freeze-up. Churchill’s polar bear season starts in October.
Month-by-month
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -23°C / -9°F | -31°C / -24°F | Quiet |
| February | -23°C / -9°F | -32°C / -26°F | Quiet |
| March | -18°C / 0°F | -28°C / -18°F | Moderate |
| April | -9°C / 16°F | -20°C / -4°F | Moderate |
| May | -1°C / 30°F | -8°C / 18°F | Quiet |
| June | 7°C / 45°F | 0°C / 32°F | Moderate |
| July | 12°C / 54°F | 4°C / 39°F | Peak |
| August | 11°C / 52°F | 4°C / 39°F | Peak |
| September | 5°C / 41°F | -1°C / 30°F | Moderate |
| October | -1°C / 30°F | -8°C / 18°F | Busy |
| November | -8°C / 18°F | -17°C / 1°F | Moderate |
| December | -17°C / 1°F | -26°C / -15°F | Quiet |
Figures for: Iqaluit (the western Arctic is warmer in summer). Temperatures are rounded long-term averages for the place named above; real days vary widely, and wind makes it feel much colder. Crowd levels are our own estimate.
Events & festivals
- Early January: Inuvik Sunrise Festival, welcoming the sun’s return
- April: Toonik Tyme spring festival in Iqaluit and spring jamborees in the western Arctic
- 21 June: National Indigenous Peoples Day
- 9 July: Nunavut Day
- July: Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik
- Mid-October–mid-November: Polar bear season at Churchill
