Northwest Territories Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Northwest Territories, Canada in December.

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Inuvik Yellowknife Hay River Fort Simpson

Are you planning a trip a to the Northwest Territories, Canada in December and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in the Northwest Territories in December

The Northwest Territories, Canada is a region in Canada. December in the Northwest Territories generally has very cold temperatures, with low precipitation. The month of December is in the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -20°C (-4°F) in Inuvik to -14°C (7°F) in Hay River. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -21°C (-6°F) in Hay River and -26°C (-15°F) in Inuvik. In many areas in Canada, December brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of the Northwest Territories, Canada, check out the map below.

Precipitation

December is a dry month with an average snowfall of around 17 mm (0.7 in) in Inuvik.

Average sunshine

Sunshine is quite limited in many locations during December. Inuvik receives roughly 0 hours of sunlight. For destinations with more sunshine, our weather planner offers alternatives worldwide.

Explore the Northwest Territories by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Northwest Territories — and find the best time to visit. (based on Inuvik)

January-21°C (-6°F) February-20°C (-4°F) March-16°C (3°F) April-5°C (23°F) May7°C (45°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly20°C (68°F) August16°C (61°F) September9°C (48°F) October-3°C (27°F) November-14°C (7°F) December-20°C (-4°F)
Best Time to Visit the Northwest Territories →

Best Places to Visit in the Northwest Territories in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across the Northwest Territories.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in the Northwest Territories

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in the Northwest Territories, Canada?

Temperature range in the Northwest Territories (December)

Precipitation variation in the Northwest Territories (December)

Inuvik

In December Inuvik generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -20°C (-4°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -26°C (-15°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-20°C (-4°F)
-21°C (-6°F)
Min temperature
-21°C (-6°F)
-26°C (-15°F)
-28°C (-18°F)
Monthly sun hours
16 hours
0 hours
6 hours
Monthly snowfall
20 mm (0.8 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Inuvik →

Yellowknife

In December Yellowknife generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -17°C (1°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -24°C (-11°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-17°C (1°F)
-21°C (-6°F)
Min temperature
-15°C (5°F)
-24°C (-11°F)
-28°C (-18°F)
Monthly sun hours
42 hours
24 hours
50 hours
Monthly snowfall
24 mm (0.9 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
16 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Yellowknife →

Hay River

In December Hay River generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -14°C (7°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -21°C (-6°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-17°C (1°F)
Min temperature
-13°C (9°F)
-21°C (-6°F)
-24°C (-11°F)
Monthly snowfall
26 mm (1 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Hay River →

Fort Simpson

In December Fort Simpson generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -17°C (1°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -24°C (-11°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-17°C (1°F)
-19°C (-2°F)
Min temperature
-17°C (1°F)
-24°C (-11°F)
-27°C (-17°F)
Monthly sun hours
51 hours
30 hours
55 hours
Monthly snowfall
23 mm (0.9 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Fort Simpson →

Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve

In December Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -17°C (1°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -22°C (-8°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-17°C (1°F)
-22°C (-8°F)
Min temperature
-11°C (12°F)
-22°C (-8°F)
-27°C (-17°F)
Monthly snowfall
42 mm (1.7 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Northwest Territories, in Canada.

In our records: Canada December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Canada in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest December night in Canada dropped to -51°C (-60°F) in Mayo on December 22, 2022.
  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in Canada was -49°C (-56°F) in Mayo on December 20, 2022.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Northwest Territories in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Inuvik -20°C (-4°F) -26°C (-15°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Yellowknife -17°C (1°F) -24°C (-11°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Hay River -14°C (7°F) -21°C (-6°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Fort Simpson -17°C (1°F) -24°C (-11°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve -17°C (1°F) -22°C (-8°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)

The Northwest Territories weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Northwest Territories, Canada in December?

the Northwest Territories, Canada typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Inuvik average around -20°C (-4°F), and temperatures drop to about -26°C (-15°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in the Northwest Territories, Canada in December?

Daytime temperatures in Inuvik peak at roughly -20°C (-4°F) in December, dropping to about -26°C (-15°F) overnight.

Does the Northwest Territories, Canada get a lot of snow in December?

December is on the drier side in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Inuvik averages only about 17 mm (0.7 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Northwest Territories, Canada?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to the Northwest Territories, Canada with often poor weather in Inuvik.

Generally speaking, July provides perfect weather in Inuvik. The weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Northwest Territories.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Canada? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Canada.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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