Iqaluit has a typically Arctic climate, although it is well outside the Arctic Circle. The city has cold winters and short summers that are too cool to permit the growth of trees. Although it is north of the tree line there are still shrubs that are classed, locally, as trees. These include the Arctic Willow which is hard to recognize as a tree because of its low height. The permafrost does not allow the taproot to get deeper than 6 in (150 mm) so this does not allow vertical growth. The Arctic Willow may be up to around 25 ft (7.6 m) horizontally, but only 6 in (150 mm) tall.
Average monthly temperatures are below freezing for eight months of the year. Iqaluit's precipitation averages just over 400 mm (16 in) annually, much wetter than many other localities in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, with the summer being the wettest season.
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Record
high °C
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
13
|
21
|
25
|
25
|
17
|
7
|
5
|
3
|
Average
high °C
|
−22
|
−23
|
−18
|
−9
|
−1
|
6
|
11
|
10
|
4
|
−2
|
−8
|
−18
|
Average
low °C
|
−30
|
−32
|
−28
|
−19
|
−7
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
−7
|
−16
|
−26
|
Record
low °C
|
−45
|
−45
|
−44
|
−34
|
−26
|
−10
|
−2
|
−2
|
−12
|
−27
|
−36
|
−43
|
Wind Chill
Low °C
|
−64
|
−65
|
−61
|
−53
|
−36
|
−18
|
−7
|
−8
|
−18
|
−42
|
−56
|
−60
|
Precipitation mm
|
21
|
15
|
21
|
28
|
26
|
35
|
59
|
65
|
55
|
36
|
29
|
18
|
Snowfall
cm
|
22
|
16
|
25
|
32
|
25
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
34
|
32
|
21
|
Rainy days (≥0.2 mm)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
13
|
14
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Snowy days (≥0.2 cm)
|
12
|
10
|
12
|
12
|
11
|
4.7
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
15
|
14
|
12
|
Monthly sunshine hrs
|
34
|
97
|
170
|
223
|
193
|
196
|
217
|
169
|
88
|
54
|
40
|
19
|
