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Climate in Ilulissat (Greenland)


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours

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Ilulissat (Greenland), position the map


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Climate chart - Ilulissat
In Ilulissat, there is a polar tundra climate, with very cold winters, during which the temperature is usually below freezing, and quite cold summers.
Ilulissat (Danish: Jacobshavn) is a village located in western Greenland, of 5,000 inhabitants (the third largest), in the municipality of Avannaata, on the coast of Disko Bay, at 69 degrees north latitude.
Near the village is the outlet of the Jacobshavn Glacier (Sermeq Kujalleq), which pours a large amount of ice into the sea through a fjord, producing icebergs that enter the sea.

Precipitation is quite scarce, since it amounts to 270 millimeters (10.6 inches) per year, and has a minimum in winter and a maximum from July to September. In winter it almost always occurs in the form of snow, in spring and autumn it alternates rain and snow, while in summer, at least in July and August, rainfall prevails.

Image di Ilulissat

The winter is long, in fact the average temperature is below freezing from October to April. The average temperature in February and March, the coldest months, is almost -15 °C (5 °F).
The wind, which can blow strongly, with gusts exceeding 100 kph (62 mph), can increase the feeling of cold.
The ground is normally covered in snow. Snowfall is frequent, although it is usually light due to the low level of precipitation.
During cold waves, the temperature drops every year below -25 °C (-13 °F), and once every few years below -30 °C (-22 °F). The coldest record is -40.5 °C (-40.9 °F), set in March 1993.

Summer, from June to August, is quite cold. This is the only season in which the average temperature is above freezing even at night, but since the daily average does not exceed 10 °C (50 °F) in any month, the climate is considered as polar. The average in July is around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F).
In July and August, rainfall is quite frequent, and these are the only months in which it almost never snows. In June, on the other hand, especially in the first half, it can sometimes snow.
During this season, fog forms quite often.
Sometimes there can be brief very mild periods, one to three days long, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 20 °C (68 °F). The highest record is 21.7 °C (71.1 °F), set in July 2017.

In Ilulissat, the sea is always very cold, and on colder periods it can freeze, more likely in February and March, while during the rest of the year, even in summer, there are icebergs floating, coming from the nearby glacier. We recall that the sea, being salty, freezes at about -2 °C or 28.5 °F.

As for the length of the days, since we are north of the Arctic Circle, there is a period, called polar night, in which the sun does not rise, and which goes from November 30 to January 11.
Instead, the period of the midnight sun, during which the sun never sets, goes from May 20 to July 23. The white nights, in which it does not get completely dark all night, occur before and after this period, from April 13 to August 30.

Ilulissat - Climate data


In Ilulissat, the average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of -14,8 °C, that of the warmest month (July) is of 8,4 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Ilulissat - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
Temperatures (°C)
MonthMinMaxMean
January-16,4-9,2-12,8
February-18,6-10,9-14,8
March-18,9-10,4-14,7
April-11,9-3,6-7,8
May-3,13,50,2
June2,79,66,1
July4,9128,4
August3,110,26,6
September-0,45,72,7
October-5,90-2,9
November-10,6-4-7,3
December-13-6,3-9,6
Year-7,3-0,2-3,75

Precipitation amounts to 270 millimeters per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 13,3 millimeters in the driest months (January, March) to 41,1 millimeters in the wettest one (September). Here is the average precipitation.
Ilulissat - Average precipitation
MonthRain (mm)Days
January134
February164
March134
April185
May184
June245
July325
August315
September417
October255
November226
December185
Year27060

The sea temperature ranges from -1 °C in March to 4 °C in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Ilulissat - Sea temperature
MonthTemperatures (°C)
January-0,5
February-0,5
March-1
April-0,5
May0
June1,5
July3
August4
September3,5
October2
November1">
December0,5
Year1

There are on average around 1590 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Ilulissat - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January00
February130
March395
April6180
May9280
June10300
July9280
August7215
September4120
October260
November130
December00
Year4,41590

Ilulissat - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020
(January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December)


January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -12,8 °C, with a minimum of -16,4 °C and a maximum of -9,2 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -25 °C. However, it dropped to -34,5 °C in January 1995.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3,5 °C. However, it reached 9,6 °C in January 1997.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 13,3 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
Sun iconThere are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 0% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of 20 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of -0,3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -14,8 °C, with a minimum of -18,6 °C and a maximum of -10,9 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -28 °C. However, it dropped to -36,4 °C in February 1995.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2,5 °C. However, it reached 11,9 °C in February 2005.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 15,6 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 35 minutes.
Sun iconThere is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 13% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of 17,9 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of -0,7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -14,7 °C, with a minimum of -18,9 °C and a maximum of -10,4 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -28,5 °C. However, it dropped to -40,5 °C in March 1993.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2,5 °C. However, it reached 9,9 °C in March 2005.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 13,3 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of 15,3 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of -0,9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


April is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7,8 °C, with a minimum of -11,9 °C and a maximum of -3,6 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -22,5 °C. However, it dropped to -29,2 °C in April 2002.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 6 °C. However, it reached 13,3 °C in April 2019.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 17,8 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 20 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of 15,3 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of -0,6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


May is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0,2 °C, with a minimum of -3,1 °C and a maximum of 3,5 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C. However, it dropped to -18,3 °C in May 2015.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11,5 °C. However, it reached 17,2 °C in May 2010.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 18,1 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 5 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 12,2 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 0,2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


June is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6,1 °C, with a minimum of 2,7 °C and a maximum of 9,6 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C. However, it dropped to -3,2 °C in June 2000.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16,5 °C. However, it reached 21,1 °C in June 2002.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 23,7 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours.
Sun iconThere are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 10,4 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 1,4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


July, the least cold month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8,4 °C, with a minimum of 4,9 °C and a maximum of 12 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1,5 °C. However, it dropped to -1,1 °C in July 2017.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C. However, it reached 21,7 °C in July 2017.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 32,3 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 20 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of 9,8 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 2,9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


August is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6,6 °C, with a minimum of 3,1 °C and a maximum of 10,2 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0,5 °C. However, it dropped to -2,8 °C in August 2013.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C. However, it reached 20,6 °C in August 1993.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 30,7 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 35 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9,3 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 3,9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


September is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2,7 °C, with a minimum of -0,4 °C and a maximum of 5,7 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C. However, it dropped to -10,6 °C in September 2015.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12,5 °C. However, it reached 18,5 °C in September 2002.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 41,1 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of 12,4 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 3,5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


October is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2,9 °C, with a minimum of -5,9 °C and a maximum of 0 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13,5 °C. However, it dropped to -17,2 °C in October 2010.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C. However, it reached 19,4 °C in October 2010.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 25,1 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
Sun iconThere are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of 15 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 1,9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7,3 °C, with a minimum of -10,6 °C and a maximum of -4 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18,5 °C. However, it dropped to -23 °C in November 2001.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7 °C. However, it reached 15,3 °C in November 2005.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 22 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 40 minutes.
Sun iconThere is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of 19,9 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 0,8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.


December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -9,6 °C, with a minimum of -13 °C and a maximum of -6,3 °C.
Cold thermometer iconOn the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21 °C. However, it dropped to -27,3 °C in December 1993.
Warm thermometer iconOn the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4,5 °C. However, it reached 12,2 °C in December 2009.
Rain iconPrecipitation amounts to 17,6 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of 20,6 kph.
Sea iconThe average sea temperature is of 0,3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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