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Nunavut experiences one of Earth's most extreme climates, characterized by long, bitterly cold winters and brief, cool summers. The territory spans multiple climate zones, from the subarctic in the south to the polar desert of the High Arctic.
Data Sources: Climate data from Environment Canada Climate Data and Arctic Council
The table below shows long-term average daily temperatures for three communities that span the territory: Iqaluit (southeast, Baffin Island), Resolute (High Arctic) and Kugluktuk (western mainland, near the treeline). Figures are rounded from Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1981–2010 Climate Normals.
| Month | Iqaluit (°C) | Resolute (°C) | Kugluktuk (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | −26.5 | −32.4 | −26.0 |
| February | −27.5 | −33.8 | −26.4 |
| March | −23.4 | −31.5 | −21.4 |
| April | −14.9 | −21.5 | −13.1 |
| May | −4.9 | −9.6 | −2.9 |
| June | 2.5 | 0.1 | 6.0 |
| July | 7.7 | 4.7 | 11.5 |
| August | 6.7 | 3.4 | 10.1 |
| September | 1.9 | −3.9 | 4.0 |
| October | −4.8 | −13.6 | −4.4 |
| November | −11.9 | −23.4 | −15.6 |
| December | −20.7 | −29.6 | −23.1 |
| Year | −9.3 | −15.7 | −8.4 |
Iqaluit
Roughly 430 mm of precipitation a year. Recorded extremes span from about −46°C to +27°C.
Resolute
One of the driest inhabited places in Canada — roughly 155 mm a year — and temperatures below −50°C have been recorded.
Kugluktuk
The mildest summer of the three (July mean near +11.5°C) thanks to its mainland location near the treeline.
Looking for today's conditions or the forecast? Current observations and forecasts for every Nunavut community are published by Environment and Climate Change Canada. This page explains the climate itself — what the weather is like over a normal year.
While southern Canada experiences four distinct seasons, Nunavut's seasons are defined more by light than temperature. Inuit traditionally recognize six seasons, each tied to specific activities and wildlife patterns. Here we present the four main seasons.
November - April
Winter dominates the Nunavut calendar, lasting six months or more. The territory experiences polar night—extended periods with no direct sunlight.
May - June
Spring brings rapidly increasing daylight and the beginning of the thaw. This transition period is marked by significant wildlife activity.
July - August
The brief Arctic summer brings continuous daylight north of the Arctic Circle and a burst of life across the tundra.
September - October
Autumn sees rapid cooling and the return of darkness. Wildlife prepares for winter, and communities harvest for the cold months ahead.
The Arctic is warming at nearly four times the global average rate—a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. According to the Arctic Council's Arctic Climate Change Update 2021, this has profound implications for Nunavut.
Arctic warming rate compared to global average
Per decade since 1979 (September minimum)
Average Arctic temperature increase since 1970
Yes by southern standards. Even in the warmest month, July, average daily temperatures reach only about 5–12°C depending on the community, and winter (November–April) daily means sit between −10°C and −34°C. Only the western mainland communities near the treeline, such as Kugluktuk, regularly see summer days above 20°C.
Winter daily lows of −30°C to −40°C are routine across the territory, and wind chill can push conditions below −50°C. In the High Arctic, temperatures below −50°C have been recorded at stations such as Resolute. Iqaluit has recorded extremes from about −46°C to +27°C.
Snow can fall in any month, and the ground stays snow-covered for roughly eight to ten months of the year. Most communities see a brief snow-free period from mid-June to September, when tundra vegetation blooms.
Large parts of it are. Much of Nunavut receives less than 250 mm of precipitation a year — the definition of a desert — and the High Arctic islands are classic polar desert, with Resolute averaging only about 155 mm annually. The difference from a hot desert is that almost all of this falls as snow.
July. Average daily temperatures in July range from about 4.7°C in Resolute to 7.7°C in Iqaluit and 11.5°C in Kugluktuk. August is nearly as warm, and it is the only month when most of the territory is reliably above freezing.
Summer (July–August) brings near-continuous daylight, temperatures between roughly 0°C and 15°C, and open water along the coast. Winter brings months of darkness or twilight, temperatures between −25°C and −40°C, and thick sea ice that traditionally enabled hunting and travel between communities.