The area of the Magnetic North Pole is in the north of Nunavut, the northernmost and coldest territory of Canada. As would be expected, the lowest winter temperatures occur in the northernmost part of the territory where temperatures average -40° F much of the winter. July mean temperatures are usually less than 35° F. There is continuous permafrost throughout the territory; only a rather shallow surface layer (6 to 60 inches) thaws every summer and refreezes during the following winter.

Precipitation levels are generally low throughout Nunavut; only a small part of the entire territory receives more than 12 inches per year. Annual precipitation is less than 4 inches for the area around Eureka on Ellesmere Island, the driest part of Nunavut. Despite the fact that the northwestern part of the archipelago is close to the Arctic Ocean, the continuous ice cover reduces evaporation and limits the maritime influence of this water body. This part of Nunavut receives less precipitation than parts of the Sahara Desert, and can rightly be described as a polar desert.