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Northwest Territories weather in January

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

What is the weather like in Northwest Territories in January?

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

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -22°C in Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve to -17°C in Hay River. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -24°C in Hay River and -27°C in Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve. In general, this month stands out as the coldest period throughout the year. Given the lower temperatures, it's essential to be well-prepared. Packing the right winter clothing and necessary accessories can make a significant difference in ensuring your comfort and well-being during this chilly season.

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Yellowknife with an average of 16 mm to low snowfall in Fort Simpson with 20 mm. Inuvik experiences limited sunny days, amounting to roughly 6 hours of sunshine. This makes it perfect for those who prefer dimmer, cloudier settings rather than intense sunlit days

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Northwest Territories in January, check out the map below. For more details on the yearly weather, visit our Northwest Territories climate page.

Where to go in Northwest Territories in January

Find the average weather conditions in January for the most popular destinations in Northwest Territories on the map below. Click on a destination dot for more detailed information.

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Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor
Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

Popular destinations in Northwest Territories

What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Northwest Territories?

Average weather in Inuvik

In January Inuvik generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -28°C and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

Inuvik
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly snowfall precipitationSnowfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
-20°C 
-26°C 
0 hours 
17 mm 
12 days 
poor 
-21°C 
-28°C 
6 hours 
19 mm 
10 days 
poor 
-20°C 
-27°C 
67 hours 
16 mm 
9 days 
poor 
Climate in Inuvik

Average weather in Yellowknife

In January Yellowknife generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -28°C and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

Yellowknife
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly snowfall precipitationSnowfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
-17°C 
-24°C 
24 hours 
17 mm 
12 days 
poor 
-21°C 
-28°C 
50 hours 
16 mm 
10 days 
poor 
-18°C 
-26°C 
107 hours 
12 mm 
9 days 
poor 
Climate in Yellowknife

Average weather in Hay River

In January Hay River generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -17°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -24°C and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

Hay River
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
precipitationMonthly snowfall precipitationSnowfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
-14°C 
-21°C 
19 mm 
12 days 
poor 
-17°C 
-24°C 
19 mm 
12 days 
poor 
-14°C 
-22°C 
15 mm 
9 days 
poor 
Climate in Hay River

Average weather in Fort Simpson

In January Fort Simpson generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -19°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -27°C and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

Fort Simpson
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
sun hoursMonthly sun hours sun hoursSun hours
precipitationMonthly snowfall precipitationSnowfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
-17°C 
-24°C 
30 hours 
19 mm 
11 days 
poor 
-19°C 
-27°C 
55 hours 
20 mm 
12 days 
poor 
-14°C 
-23°C 
96 hours 
16 mm 
10 days 
poor 
Climate in Fort Simpson

Average weather in Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve

In January Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -22°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -27°C and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve
minimum temparatureMax temperature minimum temparatureMax temp
maximum temparatureMin temperature maximum temparatureMin temp
precipitationMonthly snowfall precipitationSnowfall
rain daysMonthly rainy days rain daysRainy days
conditionsWeather conditions conditionsWeather
-17°C 
-22°C 
20 mm 
12 days 
poor 
-22°C 
-27°C 
18 mm 
11 days 
poor 
-20°C 
-25°C 
15 mm 
9 days 
poor 
Climate in Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve

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

Is January the best time to visit Northwest Territories?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Inuvik, January may not be the ideal time to visit Northwest Territories.

Generally speaking, July provides perfect weather in Inuvik. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Northwest Territories. Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.

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