Northwest Territories Weather in March

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

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

What to Expect in the Northwest Territories in March

The Northwest Territories, Canada is a region in Canada. The Northwest Territories, Canada has a wide variety of climate types. During March, you can expect very cold temperatures and low precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -16°C (3°F) in Inuvik to -5°C (23°F) in Fort Simpson. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -18°C (0°F) in Fort Simpson and -25°C (-13°F) in Inuvik. In many areas in Canada, March 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.

For specific regional insights in the Northwest Territories, Canada, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

March is a dry month with an average snowfall of around 14 mm (0.6 in) in Inuvik.

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Inuvik receives about 176 hours of sunlight in March, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations 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)

Best Places to Visit in the Northwest Territories in March

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

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 March for some of the most popular destinations in the Northwest Territories, Canada?

Temperature range in the Northwest Territories (March)

Precipitation variation in the Northwest Territories (March)

Inuvik

In March Inuvik generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -16°C (3°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -25°C (-13°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
-20°C (-4°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Min temperature
-27°C (-17°F)
-25°C (-13°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly sun hours
67 hours
176 hours
246 hours
Monthly snowfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
13 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Yellowknife

In March Yellowknife generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -11°C (12°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -21°C (-6°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
-18°C (0°F)
-11°C (12°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
-26°C (-15°F)
-21°C (-6°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly sun hours
107 hours
188 hours
276 hours
Monthly snowfall
12 mm (0.5 in)
15 mm (0.6 in)
15 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
8 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Hay River

In March Hay River generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -17°C (1°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-7°C (19°F)
3°C (37°F)
Min temperature
-22°C (-8°F)
-17°C (1°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly snowfall
15 mm (0.6 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Fort Simpson

In March Fort Simpson generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -18°C (0°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-5°C (23°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
-23°C (-9°F)
-18°C (0°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
96 hours
181 hours
251 hours
Monthly snowfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
16 mm (0.6 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
9 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve

In March Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -14°C (7°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -19°C (-2°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
-20°C (-4°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-25°C (-13°F)
-19°C (-2°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly snowfall
15 mm (0.6 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
7 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in March

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Inuvik -16°C (3°F) -25°C (-13°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Yellowknife -11°C (12°F) -21°C (-6°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Hay River -7°C (19°F) -17°C (1°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Fort Simpson -5°C (23°F) -18°C (0°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve -14°C (7°F) -19°C (-2°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)

The Northwest Territories weather in March: frequently asked questions

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

Expect less favorable weather across the Northwest Territories, Canada in March. The popular destination of Inuvik averages -16°C (3°F) by day and -25°C (-13°F) at night during this month.

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

Daytime temperatures in Inuvik peak at roughly -16°C (3°F) in March, dropping to about -25°C (-13°F) overnight.

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

Not particularly. Inuvik averages just 14 mm (0.6 in) of snow in March, making it a mostly dry month for the Northwest Territories, Canada.

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

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

Generally speaking, July provides excellent weather in Inuvik. In contrast, January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

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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