Climate
Most of the Yukon has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc), characterized by long cold winters and brief warm summers. The airstrip at Snag, 25 kilometres east of Beaver Creek near the Alaska border, experienced the lowest ever temperature measured in North America, -63.0 °C (-81.4 °F) on February 3, 1947. The Arctic Ocean coast has a Tundra climate (ET). The climate is generally very dry, with little precipitation, but is considerably wetter in the southeast. Precipitation is much greater in the mountains, and the snowpack continues to melt well into the summer, resulting in high water in July or August.
| Zone | Average annual temperature | Average July daily high | Average January daily low | Average snowfall | Average rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North (Old Crow) | -9.0 °C | 21 °C | -36 °C | 129 cm | 144 mm |
| Central (Dawson City) | -4.4 °C | 23 °C | -31 °C | 160 cm | 200 mm |
| South (Whitehorse) | -0.7 °C | 21 °C | -22 °C | 145 cm | 163 mm |
| Southeast (Watson Lake) | -2.9 °C | 21 °C | -29 °C | 197 cm | 255 mm |
Source: Environment Canada, Canadian Climate Normals or Averages 1971-2000
Read more about this topic: Geography Of Yukon
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