Whitehorse weather in May

Forum posters cite an average January temperature around -17C in Whitehorse, milder than Yellowknife's roughly -26C average for the same month, and consistently rate January through March as the clearest months of winter for aurora viewing, with September through November noted as cloudier by comparison. Posters recommend basing in Whitehorse and taking day tours out to aurora-viewing spots and other activities, with several tour operators offering winter clothing rental packages for visitors who don't have their own extreme-cold gear. Posters generally recommend a guided tour over self-driving for anyone not experienced with winter driving conditions, since some nearby routes like Dawson stay very quiet and see only a few hours of daylight this time of year. Posters generally rate January as a strong, if seriously cold, month for aurora-focused visits to Whitehorse.

July gives Whitehorse close to round-the-clock light — over eighteen hours on the record — and the forum rates July to September as the window for hiking. Near the solstice you can walk safely on a clear night, though cloud makes it too dark. Days average 21°C. Two honest caveats. The first is bugs: mosquitoes are at their worst in June and July, bad enough that regulars pack mosquito-proof clothing, and once they ease it turns into black fly season. The second is the aurora — the Yukon season runs from about 20 August to early April, so a July trip is a summer trip. The forum's own suggestion for wanting both is summer in Whitehorse, winter in Yellowknife.