Climate guide for Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife in December

Weather, crowds & best time to visit

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
UnfavorableGoodOptimal

December · Canada

Best time to visit Yellowknife in December Weather, crowds & prices

Weather in Yellowknife in December

Average temperature -26°C, 23 mm of rain, about 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 95% humidity — based on the five most recent complete years of ERA5 data (2021–2025).

December score

2.0/10

Ranked #12 of 12 months

Full year for Yellowknife
Avg temp
-26°C
Rainfall
23 mm
Humidity
95%
Days with 6h+ sun
0
Crowd Density
Quiet / Uncrowded
Average Expenses
$ · Budget Friendly ($)

December in Yellowknife scores 2.0/10 for nature and wildlife travel - ranked #12 of 12. Expect around -26°C, 23 mm of rain, and roughly 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine this month.

Yellowknife sits on Great Slave Lake under the aurora oval, with ice roads and wilderness around it.

December in Yellowknife — the hardest end of the year

December sits at -26°C (-15°F), firmly in deep-winter territory. Plan compact outdoor blocks with warm reset points between them rather than full days outside.

Only 23 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 4.6 hours of daylight.

That is 2/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.9/10 for the best month here.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Yellowknife — 7.9 points higher on the same scale.

View all 12 months

Ranked by pure climate comfort

Score scale: 0.0 → 10.0Quiet / UncrowdedModerate CrowdsPeak Tourist Rush

Frequently asked

What is the weather like in Yellowknife in December?
In December, Yellowknife averages -26°C, 23 mm of rain, and about 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. Its climate-comfort score is 2.0/10.
Is December a good time to visit Yellowknife?
December earns a 2.0/10 climate-comfort score. Use the year-round chart to weigh the weather against your budget and crowd preferences.
How much does it rain in Yellowknife in December?
Expect about 23 mm of rain in December. Average humidity is 95% and there are about 0 days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Curated in Yellowknife

Tickets & experiences

Things to do in Yellowknife

Yellowknife, Canada. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.