Nunavut Weather Radar

Nunavut climate

Nunavut, Canada's largest and newest territory, has a true Arctic climate across nearly all of its vast expanse. Iqaluit's mean annual temperature is around -9°C, with winter temperatures regularly plunging below -35°C and the brief summer averaging just 8°C. The territory encompasses the Arctic Archipelago, Hudson Bay coastline, and the barren grounds of the central Arctic.

Precipitation in Nunavut is extremely low—most of the territory qualifies as a polar desert, receiving less than 200 mm of moisture annually. What does fall comes primarily as snow, which can persist on the ground for nine months or more. Blizzards driven by fierce Arctic winds are the territory's most dangerous weather phenomenon, reducing visibility to zero and making travel between communities impossible.

Nunavut's weather is defined by the extremes of the polar climate cycle. The territory experiences months of continuous darkness in winter and months of midnight sun in summer. Sea ice extent, which is critical for Inuit communities who depend on it for travel and hunting, has been declining dramatically in recent decades. The rapid pace of Arctic warming is fundamentally altering weather patterns, wildlife migration, and the way of life in Canada's far north.