Monthly climate guide
Yellowknife weather in January
January in Yellowknife is typically freezing, with average daytime highs around -26°C (-14°F) and night-time lows near -33°C (-28°F). The month usually brings about 20 mm of rain (fairly dry) and is often cloudy. Daytime highs are about the same as December and 3°C cooler than February.
What stands out in January
- Yellowknife is usually about 23°C cooler than Kelowna in January.
- Nights often drop below freezing (average low -33°C), so expect frost and icy mornings.
- Seasonally, January counts as mid-winter in Yellowknife.
January is typically Yellowknife's coolest month.
Avg high
-26°C
-14°F
Avg low
-33°C
-28°F
Rainfall
20 mm
fairly dry
Humidity
95%
relative
Sky
56%
cloud · often cloudy
Yellowknife weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -26°C / -14°F | -33°C / -28°F | 20 mm | 95% | 56% |
| February | -22°C / -8°F | -31°C / -24°F | 13 mm | 96% | 50% |
| March | -14°C / 7°F | -24°C / -11°F | 18 mm | 95% | 47% |
| April | -4°C / 25°F | -13°C / 9°F | 19 mm | 91% | 56% |
| May | 11°C / 51°F | 2°C / 36°F | 38 mm | 73% | 62% |
| June | 18°C / 64°F | 11°C / 51°F | 65 mm | 68% | 67% |
| July | 21°C / 69°F | 13°C / 56°F | 64 mm | 65% | 68% |
| August | 18°C / 65°F | 11°C / 52°F | 52 mm | 70% | 64% |
| September | 11°C / 51°F | 4°C / 39°F | 37 mm | 78% | 62% |
| October | -2°C / 29°F | -7°C / 19°F | 27 mm | 89% | 82% |
| November | -18°C / -1°F | -25°C / -12°F | 19 mm | 95% | 72% |
| December | -24°C / -12°F | -32°C / -25°F | 17 mm | 95% | 57% |
What to pack for January
- A proper insulated winter coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- Thermal base layers and warm, grippy boots for icy mornings
Is January a good time to visit Yellowknife?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Yellowknife →Other Canada cities in January
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Yellowknife weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/canada/yellowknife/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/canada/yellowknife/january">Yellowknife weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/canada/yellowknife" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Yellowknife weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/canada/yellowknife/january">Yellowknife weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Yellowknife in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Yellowknife?
January is cool in Yellowknife, with highs around -26°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is Yellowknife in January?
Average highs are about -26°C (-14°F) and average lows about -33°C (-28°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Yellowknife in January?
Yellowknife typically gets around 20 mm of rain in January — fairly dry.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Yellowknife (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.