How Cold Is Canada?
Canada has a reputation as one of the coldest countries in the world. Similar to countries like Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greenland, Iceland and other northern countries, Canada can get quite cold. While the northern part of our country is quite chilly, even colder than many of the other countries mentioned above, the southern parts of the country can be quite warm as well. The immense size of the country puts it in a unique position, meaning that many areas of the country are much warmer or colder than others. But what are the coldest cities in Canada?
What Are The Coldest Areas In Canada?
Contrary to the warmest cities in Canada, the coldest cities in Canada are in the northern part of the country and are away from the ocean.
The further away from the equator a city is, the colder it will likely be, meaning that many of the cities on this list will be towards the northern parts of the country. Many of the coldest cities in Canada are also in the prairies, as their flat terrain gives them full exposure to windchill, which is the reason many of the windiest cities in Canada also feel very cold. Another reason the prairies are cold is that they are far away from the ocean. Being far from the ocean means that they have more extreme temperatures in both directions, as having nearby water creates a more moderate range of temperatures.
Coldest Cities In The Territories
Due to how far north they are, the territories are the coldest area in the country. Even the warmest places in the territories, such as Whitehorse and Yellowknife, are colder than the cities on any other part of this list, making every city in the territories one of the coldest cities in Canada. However, to keep things brief, only the coldest settlement in each of the three territories will be mentioned.
Old Crow, Yukon
Even for a place in the territories, Old Crow is very cold, which isn’t surprising. It’s further north than the territorial capital Whitehorse, but not so far North as to border the Arctic Ocean, and also away from the territory’s many mountains meaning that it also faces the combined consequences of being far north and prairie-like, with temperatures often hitting -30 C (-22 F) in the winter, and with highs below zero for over half of the year. The cold of this city might be a reason why the city’s population is measured in hundreds, not thousands.
Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories
This hamlet located on Banks Island is even colder than Old Crow and appropriately has even fewer people living here. This city will rarely have highs above 15 C (59 F), and the average high in the summer is still in the single digits. This place will have lows around -25 C (-13 F) for over half of the year. Lows of under -30 C (-22 F), and highs below -20 C (-4 F) are the norm in the winter, leaving Sachs Harbour as one of Canada’s coldest cities.
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut
With a population of over 1000, Gjoa Haven is more populous than the previous two entries put together and is the only settlement on King William Island. There will often be average highs below -10 C (14 F) for long periods even in the spring, with lows of below -30 C (-22 F) in the winter, with the wind chill making it feel colder than -40 C. Even in the summer, there will be days when the temperature doesn’t go above freezing.
Coldest Cities In British Columbia
With how warm BC is, it might surprise some people to see it even given an entry on this list. Although most of the warmest cities in the country are in this province, the northeastern portion of the province doesn’t have the benefits of being near the ocean, and is quite far north, making it much colder than places such as Vancouver.
Atlin
While still being relatively close to the coast, Atlin is very far north, further north than ever parts of Alaska, and only a two-hour drive from Whitehorse. The temperatures of Atlin look much like some of the warmer places in the territories, with summer highs averaging around 15 C (59 F), and average lows hovering between 5 C (41 F) and freezing. Its proximity to the coast, however, means that the winter temperatures have highs around -5 C (23 F) to -10 C (14 F), and lows dipping to -20 C (-4 F), which, while better than the prairies and territories, is still cold compared to the rest of the province.
Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson is much further East and loses many of the benefits from being near the Pacific Ocean associated with much of BC, as the city is near Alberta. However, it is slightly further south than Atlin. The more southern location and distance from the ocean gives it warmer summers, with highs of over 20 C (68 F) being the norm for most of the season, and lows in the positives for most of spring and fall. However, it can still get very cold winters, with highs often hovering around -10 C (14 F), and lows around -20 C (-4 F) being considered the norm for this city.
Fort St. John
We continue our journey going southeast, as Fort St. John practically borders Alberta, and is further south than Fort Nelson. Summer days will often have highs of over 25 C (77 F), with average highs approaching that amount. Being further south than Fort Nelson will mean that lows will often be closer to -15 C (5 F), and highs in the area around -5 C (23 F) in the winter. Despite being one of the coldest places in BC, this city is still warmer than the coldest places in the neighbouring prairies.
Coldest Cities In The Prairies
Despite having warm summers, the prairies have little to keep them warm during the coldest months of the year. This means that despite being relatively far south, places in the prairies can be among the coldest cities in Canada when winter rolls around.
Churchill, Manitoba
Given its identity as the ‘Polar Bear capital of the world,’ it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Churchill, Manitoba is one of the coldest cities in Canada. Located right by the Churchill River that travels into Hudson Bay, Churchill’s weather doesn’t exactly have the same heat as the former British Prime Minister with whom the town shares a name. Being so far north compared to the rest of the province means that even though it borders such a large body of water, the highs struggle to reach 15 C (59 F) in the summer, with winter highs often hitting -15 C (5 F), and often even -20 C (-4 F) in the winter, and lows hanging around -25 C (-13 F) on many days.
Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
Located in the northeastern part of Alberta, Fort Chipewyan is quite cold. Like most cities in the prairies, it won’t appear that way in the summer, as the temperatures will usually go over 20 C (68 F), with highs hitting 25 C (77 F) or higher not unheard of. However, in the winter, highs will generally average around -10 C (14 F), with lows hovering in the -20 C (-4 F) range.
La Ronge, Saskatchewan
Located almost dead in the centre of the province right beside Lac La Ronge, this city’s summer highs usually reach a respectable high of just over 20 C (68 F). It is however not usual for highs in the winter to barely break -15 C (5 F), with lows often below -25 C (-13 F).
Coldest Cities In Ontario
While most people in Ontario live in the southern portion of the province, the northern portion still has some respectably sized cities, and some of them are surprisingly chilly.
Kapuskasing
Located in the middle of the province, Kapuskasing is one of the coldest cities in the province. While it does get up to 20 C (68 F) to 25 C (77 F) in the summer, while usually having highs between 10 C (50 F) and 20 C (68 F) in the spring and fall, with lows remaining in the positives. In the winter, however, highs tend to hover around -10 C (14 F), with lows at about -20 C (-4 F).
Moosonee
Moosonee is near the north of the province, bordering James Bay, and despite being located next to a large body of water, it still seems to get quite cold. The summer will usually have highs of 15 C (59 F) to around 20 C (68 F), with lows even reaching the double digits. However, in the winter, highs will often have difficulty reaching above –15 C (5 F) and lows consistently being below –20 C (-4 F).
Timmins
Located much closer to Central Ontario, Timmins is slightly warmer than the above cities, but not by very much. Highs of 25 C (77 F) are not at all unusual, with double-digit lows usually accompanying them. In the winter, highs in the negatives are the norm, although they will often average out to over -5 C (23 F) in some of the warmer winter months, with highs only reaching as low as -10 C (14 F) in December and January, with lows approximately around -15 C (5 F) instead of -20 C (-4 F).
Coldest Cities In Quebec
Although many cities in Quebec are quite far south, the sheer size of the province means that despite this, there are several cities in this French-speaking province that you’ll be saying “Il fait froid” if you stay here too long, as they can be among the coldest cities in Canada.
Inukjuak
Located right near the northern portion of the province, Inukjuak has temperatures that are similar to those of the territories. Highs will rarely go above 15 C (59 F), even in the summer, where single-digit lows are still pretty common. Negative highs aren’t uncommon in the spring and fall, with highs in the winter generally falling between -15 C (5 F) and -20 C (-4 F), and lows quickly approaching -30 C (-22 F).
Kuujjuaq
This city, also located in the northern part of the province, is slightly warmer than Inukjuak, but only by a few degrees. For example, instead of highs barely reaching 15 C (59 F) in the summer, they struggle to break 20 C (68 F), with single-digit lows still being more common than not. Highs have a slightly larger range of being between -10 C (14 F) and -20 C (-4 F) in the winter, with lows being around -25 C (-13 F) instead of -30 C (-22 F).
Schefferville
Despite being slightly further south than the other cities in Quebec on this list, Schefferville has very similar temperatures, with them being only one or two degrees higher. Highs will consistently break 15 C (59 F) in the summer, and days at or above 20 C (68 F) are also relatively common, at least compared to the two previous entries. Highs in the positives will be more common in the spring and fall than in the aforementioned cities, with highs being around -10 C (14 F) to -15 C (5 F) being the norm in winter. Winter lows will still hover in the area of -25 C (-13 F) to -30 C (-22 F).
Coldest Cities In Atlantic Canada
Similar to BC, being near an ocean helps the provinces in Atlantic Canada from getting too cold in the winter. However, despite not being as cold as many of the other regions in the country, each of the four Atlantic provinces has a coldest city. Here is the coldest from each.
Baltic, Prince Edward Island
Most places in PEI are around the same temperature, but Baltic has average temperatures a degree or two lower most of the year, making it the coldest in the province. Like most places in Atlantic Canada, the temperatures in Baltic will often reach the general area of 20 C (68 F) in the summer. However, things get better here, as lows will often still be in the teens. However, temperatures here are much warmer in the spring and fall, with highs in the double digits, and even the lows remaining in the positives. Even Baltic, highs in the positives in the winter are somewhat common, with lows still usually above -10 C (14 F).
Kedgwick, New Brunswick
Like PEI’s cities, New Brunswick’s cities almost always have temperatures that are similar to each other, although Kedgwick’s temperatures are often slightly lower than the rest of the province. Not being completely surrounded by water gives the province slightly more extreme temperatures than PEI, with summer highs often between 20 C (68 F) and 25 C (77 F) balanced out by winter highs often going below -5 C (23 F), and lows often averaging out to -15 C (5 F).
St Anthony, Newfoundland And Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador has more varied temperatures than the other Atlantic provinces due to its sheer size. Found on the island of Newfoundland, St. Anthony is colder than the rest of the province. Like the coldest places in Canada, its summer highs are often in the teens. However, it is warmer than northern Quebec and the territories throughout the rest of the year, as highs even in the winter, are frequently above -5 C (23 F), and even winter lows are rarely below -10 C (14 F). Even as the coldest city in the province, St Anthony’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean helps the city remain warmer than most other places at the same latitude.
Sydney, Nova Scotia
The last entry on this list is also the only provincial capital on this list, as Sydney’s temperatures average out just a tiny bit lower than the rest of the province. Summer highs, like most of the area, are generally in the low twenties, with spring and fall temperatures ranging throughout the teens and single digits. Even in the winter, highs will often reach the positives, and even lows will rarely be below -10 C (14 F).