Climate of the
Northwest Territories and the Mackenzie Basin
This page
is meant to introduce the reader to the basic climate along the
Mackenzie River. I have provided descriptions for several cities,
including basic histograms that display temperature and precipitation
trend for the respective location.
The purpose of this section it describe how the climate experienced by the different locations and cities along the river are affected by the fact that the Mackenzie River is a northward flowing river. During the spring, the locations in the south experience thaw of river ice before the locations up to the north. The opposite pattern occurs for the freezing of the river during the fall months.
The purpose of this section it describe how the climate experienced by the different locations and cities along the river are affected by the fact that the Mackenzie River is a northward flowing river. During the spring, the locations in the south experience thaw of river ice before the locations up to the north. The opposite pattern occurs for the freezing of the river during the fall months.
Courtesy of
Eric Leinman, University of Brtitis Columbia
Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson is located in the southwest region of Deh Cho Territory. It is 400 Miles west of Yellowknife and is uniquely situated on an island on the forks of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers. The town consists of a population of approximately 1200 people. The main languages used by the Natives of Fort Simpson are South Slavey and English.Here, the Mackenzie River began the main transportation route for the early European settlers. The soil characteristics consist of fertile boreal forest and marsh wetlands. The vegetation, which is plentiful in the winter and summer months, consists of coniferous trees, pine and spruce, and short-rooted plants.
A way of describing a climate zone of a particular area is with a climograph, which represents the average monthly temperature and rainfall. Here, we have the histogram for the town of Fort Simpson, which was created from the 40 year average data sets. All Climate data made available through Environment Canada.
Warmest Month –July ~75 F
First Freeze –October, although sometimes in September
Coldest month-January ~25 F
Snow Season- October through May
Wind – South East during summer- River Influence
Climate- Continental; very cold winters and cool summers with most precipitation in the summer months
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Wrigley
The town of Wrigley is known as a Trading post-village, also known as the “The Clay Place.”
It is one of the scenic tourist stops along the Mackenzie Highway. The town consists of a population of approximately 200 people, who are mainly the native Slavey. Wrigley is located near the middle course of Mackenzie River in the Deh Cho Territory.
Warmest Month –July ~75 F
First Freeze –September, although sometimes in August
Coldest month-January ~ -18F
Snow Season- October through May
Wind – South East during summer- River Influence
Climate- Continental
The precipitation is greater in Wrigley, than Fort Simpson. Also, the summer months are wetter.
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Norman Wells
Norman Wells is a full functioning community, located in the Sahtu Territory of the NWT. The town of Norman Wells has a population of approximately 700 people. A strong Oil and Gas Extraction Industry occurs in Norman Wells due to the minerals located beneath the river. In fact, Norman Wells currently boasts the most northerly producing oilfield in Canada. The oil is extracted from artificial islands in Mackenzie River. At this location, the Mackenzie River has a width of 4 km.
Norman Wells provides the means for the major barge route for freight down the Mackenzie River during the summer, and in the winter Mackenzie ice highway provides a road connection to the NWT's year-round highway system.
Warmest Month –July ~ 60 F
First Freeze – August
Coldest month-January ~ -18F
Snow Season- September through May
Wind – East during summer , Northwest during winter
Climate - variable difference between cities upriver (in the south direction) and Norman Wells:
the temperature is warmer upriver during summer. Norman Wells has a longer winter.
Spring comes 4 weeks later
This area of the Mackenzie river starts to experience less precipitation then compared to Wrigley and Fort Simpson.
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Inuvik
The town of Inuvik is located near the coast of the Beaufort Sea. It is situated on the East Channel of the Mackenzie River Delta. Inuvik holds the status as the first planned Canadian town north of the Arctic Circle in 1958. It became the first administration center of the north during that time. Now, Inuvik is a major transportation and service center of the Western Arctic.
Inuvik is located in the Arctic tundra region, so the soil is frozen permafrost. The vegetation consists of short-rooted plants, lichens, and shrubs.
Warmest Month –July ~ 55 F
First Freeze –September
Coldest month-January ~ -21 F
Snow Season- September through May
Wind – North
Continental Arctic climate - cool short summers and extremely long cold winters
Winter arrives earlier up-river
Spring Arrives in April up-river, May down-river
Still, it gets real cold ~ - 65 F
Precipitation is less due to the moisture content is low with Arctic air mass
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