National Climate Data and Information Archive
www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca
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The North
At first glance, Canada's north, with its cold temperatures and long dark winters, would appear to have the toughest weather in the country. Surprisingly, Whitehorse placed in the "most comfortable" climate list. Although this city has cold temperatures, it scored high in many other comfortable weather categories, such as abundant sunshine in the spring and summer, low humidity, and little precipitation year-round. Indeed, Whitehorse was the "weather winner" for the driest city. Yellowknife, however, ranked third on the list of cities with the toughest weather. Yellowknife placed first in 12 weather categories, including the coldest year-round, the most extreme wind chill, the longest snow cover season, but also the sunniest summer.
In the eastern Arctic, conditions are even more extreme. Iqaluit, Nunavut is the largest Canadian community here, however with a population less than 5000 people, it was not included in this analysis. There is no question that if Iqaluit had been included it would have captured top honours in most cold weather categories, including the coldest winter, the longest snow cover season, the coldest year-round, most freezing days, extreme wind chill, most blowing snow days and the greatest heating degree-day total. By being tops in these categories, Iqaluit would have also received recognition as the Canadian city or town with the toughest weather.
