Northwest Territories Weather in May

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

Planning a getaway to the Northwest Territories, Canada this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in the Northwest Territories in May

The Northwest Territories, Canada is a region in Canada. In May, the Northwest Territories experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from cold to mild and precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between cold in Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve at 4°C (39°F) to mild in Fort Simpson at 17°C (63°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 3°C (37°F) in Fort Simpson and -2°C (28°F) in Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve.

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

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snow/rainfall in Inuvik with an average of 19 mm (0.7 in) to moderate snow/rainfall in Fort Simpson with 34 mm (1.3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Inuvik enjoys about 297 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

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 May

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

Temperature range in the Northwest Territories (May)

Precipitation variation in the Northwest Territories (May)

Inuvik

In May Inuvik generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
-5°C (23°F)
7°C (45°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
-15°C (5°F)
-3°C (27°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
246 hours
297 hours
377 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
13 mm (0.5 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
32 mm (1.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
7 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Yellowknife

In May Yellowknife generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
10°C (50°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
-11°C (12°F)
0°C (32°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
276 hours
335 hours
373 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
15 mm (0.6 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
28 mm (1.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
6 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Hay River

In May Hay River generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
11°C (52°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
1°C (34°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly rainfall
18 mm (0.7 in)
24 mm (0.9 in)
33 mm (1.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
8 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Fort Simpson

In May Fort Simpson generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
17°C (63°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
3°C (37°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
251 hours
295 hours
313 hours
Monthly rainfall
20 mm (0.8 in)
34 mm (1.3 in)
60 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
9 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve

In May Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
-4°C (25°F)
4°C (39°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-2°C (28°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
18 mm (0.7 in)
24 mm (0.9 in)
35 mm (1.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
7 days
9 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 May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Inuvik 7°C (45°F) -3°C (27°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Yellowknife 10°C (50°F) 0°C (32°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Hay River 11°C (52°F) 1°C (34°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Fort Simpson 17°C (63°F) 3°C (37°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve 4°C (39°F) -2°C (28°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)

The Northwest Territories weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

the Northwest Territories, Canada typically experiences mixed weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Inuvik average around 7°C (45°F), and temperatures drop to about -3°C (27°F) at night.

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

In Inuvik, the average daytime high in May is 7°C (45°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -3°C (27°F).

Does the Northwest Territories, Canada get a lot of snow/rain in May?

Not particularly. Inuvik averages just 19 mm (0.7 in) of snow/rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for the Northwest Territories, Canada.

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

In our opinion, May may not be the ideal time to visit the Northwest Territories, Canada due to the typically mixed weather in Inuvik.

On average, the best time to visit the Northwest Territories, Canada is in July with generally excellent weather in Inuvik. The weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be less favorable.

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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