The cloudy, wet weather that's blanketed the Yukon this summer is making its footprint on local business, some for the good and some for the bad.

The 12.5 C Whitehorse saw today tied the area for the third-coldest temperature seen in the territory since 1942, when records started being kept.

In 1945, the temperature hit its coldest at 12.1 C, with 1974 seeing 12.4 C and 1970 and 1984 also seeing the thermostats hit 12.5 C, Bill Miller, Environment Canada's local meteorologist, said this morning.

Overall, this marks the coldest July since 1988, he said, noting the territory has been enjoying warmer weather over the past couple of decades.

"It is unusual we haven't seen it in 20 years," Miller said, adding the 1940s and 1950s also saw the damp, cooler conditions being experienced this summer.

The situation has meant some winning and losing hands being dealt to local businesses and tourism operations.

At the city tourism office, visitors have been dropping by asking where they might be able to buy warmer clothes like mittens and hats.

"That's a big change for us," tourism manager Sheila Dodd said today. Many have come to town with their lighter summer gear that's usually appropriate for the sunny, warmer weather, she said.

The big winners this season have been businesses providing indoor accommodations, products and events.

"The hotels are pretty busy," Dodd said, noting many campers are looking for hotel accommodations which city staff try to help them find, but most rooms are booked up.

Others who might normally cook their meals outside when they're camping or in their RVs are opting to find out what restaurants are open.

Still others are taking in shows like the Frantic Follies, which provide some authentic Yukon entertainment without visitors having to go outside.

Meanwhile, Dodd has seen the Arts In The Park event (where performers take to the stage at LePage Park while visual artists work on their pieces over the lunch hour) suffer as fewer and fewer people stream out of the park after the show.

"That's a very sad thing," she said, noting the many great performers taking to the stage this season.

Dodd had thought vacationers, particularly those in RVs or camping, might move on a little more quickly than usual in search of the sun. However, the general cloudy, cold weather hasn't seemed to limit their vacation time as many have been dealing with similar conditions throughout their vacation as they've driven up the Alaska Highway.

Though it's easy to see why vacationers are opting to stay inside, the one area that seems to vary is the walking tours the city offers.

More and more people seem to be requesting the tours around town, decked out in their heavier clothes they just bought when they're out shopping.

Dodd can't explain the increase in walking tour requests, but is pleased to see the many visitors taking them in.

Though it's not in the forecast, Dodd is continuing, along with many others, to hope for sun.

Earlier this week, the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel hosted one guest who stayed there because he didn't want to put up his tent trailer in the rain, said hotel manager Heather McIntyre.

While exact visitor figures aren't in at the Westmark Whitehorse yet, she said, it seems to be on par or a little down from last year with about a 94 per cent occupancy rate so far this month.

Similarly, the number of people coming into the restaurant for a meal seems to be about the same, she said.

Meanwhile, the wet temperatures have seen Icycle Sports, which sells and service bicycles through the winter, dig out some of the rain gear and equipment staff typically put away after the spring and bring out again in the fall.

Service manager Jonah Clark said where business typically drops off a bit in July and August after a busy June, it's gone from a usually "steady trickle" downward to more of a "steady drip" in bicycle sales.

Service, meanwhile, has pretty much dropped off completely as fewer people are out on their bikes and those who are are out less, and having fewer problems that need repairs, he said.

"There's still people biking," he said.

Like cyclists, some canoists and kayakers are still out hoping to make the most of their summer regardless of the weather, though bookings have definitely fallen off at the Kanoe People, owner Scott McDougall said today.

"Yukoners are pretty hardy souls," he commented of those still taking in the lakes and rivers with the business' canoes and kayaks.

The Kanoe People is feeling the impact, with fewer people booking day trips and less walk-in traffic looking to enjoy a sunny day on the river.

"It definitely is slowing down the day rental," he said, though he noted those who have pre-booked longer trips are keeping their plans.

Sales of rain gear at the business are definitely up thanks to the weather, he said, noting he also noticed that some of the larger stores in town seem to have little rain gear left.

Like most businesses in town, the Kanoe People won't know its exact numbers for the season until it's over.

While business owners and managers selling outdoor gear and activities may be hoping for sun and warmth, it likely won't be coming anytime soon.

Just last week, Miller said, Pilot Mountain was covered in snow.

Miller noted the 30-day forecast shows cold, with occasional showers and below-normal temperatures, though it looks like August may warm a little into the high teens.

He pointed out any forecast beyond five days is always somewhat "iffy" though.

The cooler, wetter temperatures are being caused by a lack of high pressure that would typically bring warmer, brighter conditions to the Pacific region, he explained. As for what happened to the high pressure, Miller said, it's an unknown.

While temperatures are colder than usual, he noted precipitation is only at about three quarters of what it would typically be.

The perception of there being more rain than usual likely comes from the cloudy conditions that have dominated the summer season, he explained.