Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord in Danish) is a village of 500 inhabitants located in western Greenland, in the municipality of Qeqqata, inside a fjord, about 130 km (80 mi) east of Sisimiut and at 67 degrees north latitude. About 20 km (12 mi) to the east is the
, which passes through the city, carries water from the glacier to the fjord. In summer, when the ice partially melts, the river is subject to flooding.
is scarce, amounting to 170 millimeters (6.6 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 rain and snow alternate, while in summer rain prevails.
is long, in fact the average temperature is below freezing from October to April. Winter temperatures are significantly lower than those of the towns located directly on the coast of Greenland. The average in February, the coldest month, is -20 °C (-4 °F).
The ground is normally covered in snow.
is frequent, although it is generally light due to the low level of precipitation.
, the temperature drops below -35 °C (-31 °F) almost every year. The coldest record is -47.2 °C (-53 °F), set in January 1983. More recently, the temperature dropped to -46.8 °C (-52.2 °F) in February 2008. In February 1984, the daily average was -36.7 °C (-34.1 °F).
, from June to August, is mild. We are in one of the few areas of Greenland where the average temperature of the warmest month exceeds, albeit slightly, 10 °C (50 °F), so the climate is considered subarctic rather than polar. The average in July is 11 °C (52 °F).
In July and August, rain is quite frequent, and these are the only months in which it almost never snows. In June and September, on the other hand, it can sometimes snow.
, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 20 °C (68 °F), and unlike on the coast, this happens every year. The highest record is 25.5 °C (77.9 °F), set in July 1990.
, even though we are just north of the Arctic Circle, the sun rises even on the shortest days of the year due to the phenomenon of refraction. To be more precise, on the days of the winter solstice, that is, December 21 or 22, the sun is on the horizon at midday, and the day lasts an hour and a half.
, during which the sun never sets, goes from June 2 to July 10. The
, in which it is not completely dark all night, occur before and after this period, from April 19 to August 24.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-18.4 °C, with a minimum of
-23.3 °C and a maximum of
-13.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-36 °C. However, it dropped to
-44.9 °C in January 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5.5 °C. However, it reached
12.3 °C in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.9 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-19.8 °C, with a minimum of
-24.9 °C and a maximum of
-14.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-37.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-46.8 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4 °C. However, it reached
13.9 °C in February 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.1 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.5 kph.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-16.5 °C, with a minimum of
-22.2 °C and a maximum of
-10.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-33.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-45.4 °C in March 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5.5 °C. However, it reached
14.4 °C in March 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
11.4 kph.
April is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6.2 °C, with a minimum of
-11.6 °C and a maximum of
-0.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-23.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-34.4 °C in April 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9.5 °C. However, it reached
17.8 °C in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
11.9 kph.
May is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.4 °C, with a minimum of
-1.7 °C and a maximum of
8.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9 °C. However, it dropped to
-21.8 °C in May 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16.5 °C. However, it reached
22.2 °C in May 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
10.9 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is of
13.6 kph.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.8 °C, with a minimum of
4.2 °C and a maximum of
15.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.8 °C in June 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
25.2 °C in June 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
13.4 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always above the horizon.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is of
14.9 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.9 °C, with a minimum of
5 °C and a maximum of
16.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.7 °C in July 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
24.2 °C in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
27.6 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 kph.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.6 °C, with a minimum of
3.3 °C and a maximum of
14 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.8 °C in August 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
22.9 °C in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
31.7 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
13.5 kph.
September is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.4 °C, with a minimum of
-1 °C and a maximum of
7.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.4 °C in September 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
21.1 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
22.7 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
12.5 kph.
October is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.8 °C, with a minimum of
-8.7 °C and a maximum of
-0.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-28.9 °C in October 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10 °C. However, it reached
17.1 °C in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
13.1 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-11.4 °C, with a minimum of
-15.7 °C and a maximum of
-7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-28.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-35 °C in November 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8.5 °C. However, it reached
15.8 °C in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
11.7 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.3 kph.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-15.2 °C, with a minimum of
-19.9 °C and a maximum of
-10.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-33 °C. However, it dropped to
-39.3 °C in December 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5 °C. However, it reached
11.9 °C in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.9 kph.