Thanks to its predictable cold climate, Yukon is very well-positioned as a base for cold climate research. Yukon winters are long, dry and consistently cold with generally clear skies and calm winds. Historical climate data is available for most Yukon communities and several additional stations. Climate normals for a thirty-year period (1971-2000) are shown below for Whitehorse, Mayo and Old Crow.
Whitehorse, 60° 42' N 135° 04' W / 706 m
| Climate Normals, 1971 – 2000 |
November |
January |
March |
| Daily average temperature |
-9.4 C° |
-17.7 C° |
-6.6 C° |
| Daily maximum temperature |
-5.8 C° |
-13.3 C° |
-0.8 C° |
| Daily minimum temperature |
-13 C° |
-22 C° |
-12.3 C° |
| Bright sunshine (total hours) |
43.2 |
46.7 |
161.2 |
| Daily hours of daylight (avg) |
7.5 |
6 |
11.5 |
| Wind speed (km/hr) |
14.1 |
12.9 |
12.7 |
Mayo, 63° 37' N 135° 52' W / 504 m
| Climate Normals, 1971 – 2000 |
November |
January |
March |
| Daily average temperature |
-15.9 C° |
-25.7 C° |
-9.6 C° |
| Daily maximum temperature |
-11.2 C° |
-20.5 C° |
-2.8 C° |
| Daily minimum temperature |
-20.5 C° |
-31 C° |
-16.4 C° |
| Bright sunshine (total hours) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
| Daily hours of daylight (avg) |
6.5 |
5.5 |
11.5 |
| Wind speed (km/hr) |
5.9 |
4.5 |
9.1 |
Old Crow, 67° 34' N 139° 5' W / 251 m
| Climate Normals, 1971 – 2000 |
November |
January |
March |
| Daily average temperature |
-23.2 C° |
-31.1 C° |
-21.7 C° |
| Daily maximum temperature |
-19.1 C° |
-26.7 C° |
-15.2 C° |
| Daily minimum temperature |
-27.5 C° |
-35.7 C° |
-28.1 C° |
| Bright sunshine (total hours) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
| Daily hours of daylight (avg) |
5 |
3 |
11.5 |
| Wind speed (km/hr) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Cold Hard Yukon Facts
Yukon holds the record for the coldest temperature recorded in North America (−63° C, February 3, 1947 at Snag near Beaver Creek).