The Weather In Greenland
ARCTIC TEMPERATURES
Greenland has an Arctic climate with average temperatures that do not exceed 10° C (50° F) in the warmest summer months. The air quality in Greenland is among the best in the world due to the country’s geographical position to the high north.
In the southern part of the country and the innermost parts of the long fjords, the temperature can, however, rise to more than 20° C (68° F) in June, July or August, and due to the fine air quality and low levels of moisture in the air, in general you are able to see very, very far.
VARIABLE COASTAL AND INLAND CLIMATE
The sea around Greenland affects the climate on land. The stretches of coastline close to the open sea, in particular, are cooled by the sea.
Therefore during the summer months it is warmest and driest on land closest to the ice sheet. In all parts of the country the weather is locally changeable and can vary from fjord to fjord and from one valley to the next.
You can get the best weather information by enquiring at local tourist offices or asking local people.
LOW HUMIDITY
The air is generally very dry in Greenland in relation to many other countries, and because of this low humidity the low temperatures do not feel as cold as you might expect. On the other hand, the dry air means that you must drink more water than normal.
The low humidity also means that you can see further than you are probably used to. Mountain crests that appear to be close are usually further away than you think so keep this in mind when planning a hike.
"The air quality in Greenland is among the best in the world..."
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Mean Temperatures
Temperatures vary enormously: From an average in Upernavik of minus 20 degrees in February to about 10 degrees in the towns throughout the summer.
TEMPERATURES IN GREENLAND
The temperature in Greenland is highly dependent on where you are and which time of the year you visit the country. The mean temperature remains below +10° C (50° F) in June, July and August in just about every town in Greenland, whilst all places are below freezing from November through to April.
Owing to the low humidity in Greenland, summer temperatures will often feel warmer than you might otherwise expect. If the sun is shining, short-sleeved shirts and T-shirts are perfectly adequate.
Conversely, the winter is particularly cold in the very north of Greenland, for example in Upernavik, where the thermometer shows an average of -20° C (-4° F) in February.
GREENLANDIC MEAN TEMPERATURES
The table shows mean temperatures in most of the towns in Greenland measured in degrees Celsius. As these are 24-hour mean temperatures, the average daytime temperature will be a little higher, whilst the average nighttime temperatures will be a little lower.
At the same time, there can be large fluctuations from day to day; for example in the summer months there are several places in Greenland where day temperatures can exceed 20° C (68° F).
