The climate in Greenland
Average daytime and nighttime temperaturesAll climate diagrams on this page come from the collected data of 4 weather stations.
All data correspond to the average monthly values of the last 20 years.
Back to overview: Greenland
Climate zone: arctic polar zone
The climate in Greenland is predominantly frosty cold and in the winter months the mercury does not even reach the positive range. In the cold season, the maximum temperatures are well below zero. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Sermersooq. The coldest is Qaasuitsup. Due to the warmer temperatures, the best time for traveling is from May to October. Less attractive are the cold months from November to April.
The coldest day in these 73 years was reported by the Danmarkshavn weather station. Here the temperature dropped to -43.6 °C in January 2019. Danmarkshavn lies at an altitude of twelve meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1989 with an average temperature of -18.8 °C. In Greenland, it is usual to have about 6.2 degrees more at -12.6 °C for this three-month period.
The most precipitation fell in December 2011. With 21.7 mm per day, the Ikerasassuaq weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 73 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Ikerasassuaq. The driest region is near Danmarkshavn.
The climate in Greenland is predominantly frosty cold and in the winter months the mercury does not even reach the positive range. In the cold season, the maximum temperatures are well below zero. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Sermersooq. The coldest is Qaasuitsup. Due to the warmer temperatures, the best time for traveling is from May to October. Less attractive are the cold months from November to April.
Hours of sunshine per day

Rain days per month

Precipitation in mm/day

Water temperature

Relative humidity in %

Absolute humidity in g/m³

Temperature records of the last 73 years
The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to August 2022 was reported by the Tasiilaq weather station. In August 2021, the record temperature of 23.6 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 13 weather stations in Greenland , was recorded in 2003 with an average temperature of 6.9 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 4.5 degrees Celsius. The average maximum daily temperature at that time was 10.2 °C.The coldest day in these 73 years was reported by the Danmarkshavn weather station. Here the temperature dropped to -43.6 °C in January 2019. Danmarkshavn lies at an altitude of twelve meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1989 with an average temperature of -18.8 °C. In Greenland, it is usual to have about 6.2 degrees more at -12.6 °C for this three-month period.
The most precipitation fell in December 2011. With 21.7 mm per day, the Ikerasassuaq weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 73 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Ikerasassuaq. The driest region is near Danmarkshavn.