Greenland Climate and Weather

The changeable weather in Greenland varies between regions and with a unique climate offering great differences in temperature over the seasons.

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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Wind, Snow and Rain

Greenland’s climate is an Arctic one and offers large variations in temperature and rainfall. The weather can change suddenly and vary greatly over short distances.

THE WIND IN GREENLAND

Generally-speaking it is not that windy in Greenland. Many days are completely calm with calm seas and glassy fjords and lakes.

However, the wind can certainly pick up and when at its worst certain areas can experience so-called föhn winds, which are often preceded by lens-shaped clouds.

Föhn winds are usually warm winds from the southeast which can be very strong with gusts of more than 50 m/s (111 mph), and are usually followed by precipitation.

All in all, however, it is unusual for strong winds to be a problem for guests that are visiting Greenland during the summer or for brief periods only.

THE CHILL FACTOR

During the winter the wind can increase the effect of the cold. Minus 5° C (23° F) feels a lot colder in a wind blowing at 10 m/s (22 mph).

This is what is known as the chill factor or wind chill factor. Although minus 15° C (5° F) sounds cold, it does not have to feel it, as long as there is no wind and you are wearing the right clothing.

Suitable clothing is in fact the key, because it is a truism that there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing!

Greenland is not completely devoid of rain, but heavy rain is rare. Rainfall levels are generally a little higher in the south than in the north. For example, Nanortalik in the south has 900 mm (35 inches) of rain a year, whilst Upernavik in the north averages just 200 mm (8 inches) of rain a year.

In fact there is less rainfall in Northeast Greenland than in the Sahara, and thus the expression “the Arctic desert” has arisen.

RAIN AND QUANTITIES OF SNOW

Quantities of snow also vary locally, but it is not unusual to see large amounts of snow in many towns from December to March.

Enquire in advance at your local travel agency if you are planning to go skiing or dog sledding. The best months for dogsled driving are from February to April.

By Visit Greenland

Behind Greenland's largest travel site is the Visit Greenland that is 100% owned by the Government of Greenland, who is responsible for marketing the country's adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world's largest island

https://visitgreenland.com