The climate of Greenland: when to go to Greenland

This post is also available in: Deutsch

Greenland has an Arctic climate, but the large size of the island cause some climatic differences. In Greenland the sudden changes in climate are common occurrences, and during a trip you must be prepared for all types of weather conditions. Precipitation in Greenland are largely in the form of snow.

From the climatic point of view, Greenland can be divided into two distinct climatic regions: the coastal region which during the short summer is ice-free, and the interior of the island which is covered throughout the year by a wide layer of ice.

The north of the country, and most of the inland areas, enjoy a truly Arctic climate, with temperatures above zero only for short periods in the summer. The climate is harsh, with temperatures well below -35°C with short summers and little rainfall. During the winter, the temperatures range from -5°C to -30°C and in summer varies between 4°C and 15°C.

In the southern part of the country and in more sheltered areas along the fjords, the temperature can, however, get on certain days at 20°C in June, July or August. The air is generally very dry in Greenland, because of this, the temperatures do not appear to be so cold as to equal temperature may be in Europe.

WHEN TO GO TO GREENLAND

The summer months between June and August are the best for a trip to Greenland, summer is indeed the high season of Greenland.

What to see: Tourist attractions.

THE CLIMATE OF GREENLAND: CLIMATE TABLES

NUUK / GODTHAB (5 meters)
Month	Average low (°C)	Average high (°C)	Precip. (mm)	Precip. days (snowy days)
January	-10,0	-4,6	40	13,8 (13,6)
February	-10,7	-4,7	47	12,7 (12,1)
March	-10,7	-5,1	49	15,1 (14,5)
April	-6,3	-1,2	47	13,2 (11,4)
May	-1,7	3,1	55	13,0 (9,4)
June	1,1	7,0	61	10,5 (2,8)
July	3,5	9,9	86	12,5 (0,1)
August	3,5	9,3	85	12,5 (0,2)
September	1,4	6,0	89	14,1 (4,3)
October	-2,7	1,4	66	13,5 (9,8)
November	-5,8	-1,3	73	14,3 (12,7)
December	-8,6	-3,5	54	14,4 (13,8)
YEAR	-3,9	1,4	752	159,6 (104,7)