Travel Nunavut is very happy to provide information to help visitors plan their trip. Interested people should call the toll-free number for Destination Nunavut 1-866-686-2888 and an information counselor will be pleased to assist them. Many hamlets in Nunavut have websites with information regarding visitor centres, local attractions, arts, tours, expeditions, cultural activities and a full range of visitor accommodations.
Nunavut is an enormous territory, so the weather varies widely from place to place. First time visitors to Nunavut should know that it does not have a temperate climate.
This is the Arctic, which is much colder on average than most of the populated regions of the world.
Seasons
Nunavut experiences five seasons across the territory. Due to its vast size, these seasons can be experienced differently, and each region has its own seasonal calendar. A crucial understanding of what grows and what wildlife is in abundance from month to month has been nurtured for generations and shared among the Inuit. Discover what each season brings to the Auyuittuq National Park region of Nunavut.
TEMPERATURE
Temperatures vary widely by community. The average temperature in Kugluktuk is the warmest in Nunavut, sometimes rising to 30°C in the summer and ranging from -15°C to -40°C in the winter.
Spring temperatures are more consistent throughout the territory, with average daytime highs between -20°C and -10°C. The cool days of spring in Nunavut have plenty of sunshine. From late March to the end of May, the sunlight reflected off the snow and ice can cause severe sunburn, so even though it may feel cold, using sunscreen lotion is advisable.
Average Temperature of Nunavut Communities (in degrees Celsius)
Temperatures vary widely by community. The average temperature in Kugluktuk is the warmest in Nunavut, sometimes rising to 30°C in the summer and ranging from -15°C to -40°C in the winter.
Qikiqtaaluk
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qikiqtaaluk | ||||||||||||
| Arctic Bay | -29 | -30 | -28 | -20 | -11 | 0 | 5 | 2 | -6 | -15 | -23 | -27 |
| Cape Dorset | -25 | -26 | -22 | -14 | -6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 2 | -4 | -12 | -20 |
| Clyde River | -28 | -30 | -27 | -19 | -9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | -8 | -18 | -25 |
| Grise Ford | -33 | -34 | -31 | -22 | -10 | -3 | 2 | 1 | -4 | -12 | -22 | -30 |
| Hall Beach | -32 | -33 | -29 | -20 | -9 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | -10 | -20 | -28 |
| Igloolik | -30 | -31 | -28 | -19 | -8 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 0 | -9 | -20 | -26 |
| Iqaluit | -27 | -28 | -24 | -15 | -4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 2 | -5 | -13 | -23 |
| Kimmirut | -25 | -26 | -23 | -14 | -4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 2 | -4 | -12 | -22 |
| Pangnirtung | -24 | -24 | -23 | -16 | -8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | -2 | -7 | -15 | -21 |
| Pond Inlet | -32 | -34 | -30 | -22 | -10 | 2 | 6 | 4 | -1 | -11 | -22 | -29 |
| Qikiqtarjuaq | -25 | -26 | -24 | -17 | -8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | -3 | -8 | -16 | -22 |
| Resolute | -32 | -33 | -31 | -23 | -11 | 0 | 4 | 2 | -5 | -19 | -24 | -29 |
| Sanikiluaq | -22 | -23 | -17 | -7 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 2 | -5 | -16 |
Kivalliq
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kivalliq | ||||||||||||
| Arviat | -30 | -28 | -23 | -14 | -4 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 4 | -3 | -16 | -25 |
| Baker Lake | -32 | -32 | -27 | -17 | -6 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 3 | -8 | -20 | -28 |
| Chesterfield Inlet | -31 | -31 | -27 | -17 | -6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 2 | -8 | -19 | -26 |
| Coral Harbour | -30 | -30 | -26 | -17 | -7 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 1 | -7 | -17 | -26 |
| Rankin Inlet | -32 | -30 | -25 | -16 | -6 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 3 | -5 | -18 | -27 |
| Repulse Bay | -31 | -31 | -26 | -17 | -7 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 0 | -8 | -19 | -26 |
| Whale Cove | -31 | -31 | -27 | -16 | -6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 2 | -4 | -16 | -26 |
Kitikmeot
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitikmeot | ||||||||||||
| Cambridge Bay | -33 | -33 | -30 | -21 | -9 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 | -12 | -23 | -30 |
| Gjoa Haven | -34 | -34 | -28 | -20 | -9 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | -10 | -22 | -30 |
| Kugaaruk | -26 | -34 | -28 | -24 | -9 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 1 | -7 | -16 | -26 |
| Kugluktuk | -28 | -27 | -25 | -17 | -5 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 3 | -7 | -20 | -26 |
| Taloyoak | -34 | -34 | -31 | -21 | -9 | 1 | 7 | 6 | -1 | -12 | -23 | -27 |
Daylight
In winter, visitors should be prepared for cold temperatures and short days.
The further north you go, the shorter the winter days get. Communities north of the Arctic Circle don’t see the sun at all for stretches at a time, although the sky may lighten a bit on the southern horizon at midday.
The further north you go above the Arctic Circle, the greater number of days that have complete 24-hour sunshine. The Midnight Sun shines brightly over Nunavut. Depending on the community, the sun never completely sets beneath the horizon for up to four months of the year.
| Community | 24 Hours of Sunshine |
|---|---|
| Grise Fiord | April 22 to August 20 |
| Resolute | April 29 to August 13 |
| Pond Inlet | May 5 to August 7 |
| Arctic Bay | May 6 to August 6 |
| Clyde River | May 13 to August 1 |
| Taloyoak | May 17 to July 27 |
| Igloolik | May 18 to July 26 |
| Cambridge Bay | May 20 to July 23 |
| Hall Beach | May 21 to July 22 |
| Kugaaruk | May 21 to July 22 |
| Gjoa Haven | May 22 to July 21 |
| Kugluktuk | May 27 to July 17 |
| Qikiqtarjuaq | May 29 to July 15 |
| Repulse Bay | June 4 to July 9 |
| Pangnirtung | June 8 to July 4 |