, although with maritime influences, with very cold winters, during which the temperature is normally below freezing, and quite mild summers.
Maniitsoq (or Sukkertoppen) is a town of 2,500 inhabitants, located in the southwest of Greenland, in the municipality of Qeqqata, on a small island, near the rugged coast overlooking the Davis Strait, and at 65 degrees north latitude.
is moderate, amounting to 965 millimeters (38 inches) per year, with a maximum from July to September, when it can sometimes be abundant.
is long, in fact the average temperature is below freezing from November to April. The average temperature in February, the coldest month, is -8 °C (17.5 °F).
Due to its location on the coast, the temperature is not as low as in other polar climate areas, however, the
, which can blow strongly, with gusts exceeding 100 kph (62 mph), can increase the feeling of cold.
. Snowfall is frequent, and can sometimes be heavy.
, the temperature drops below -15 °C (5 °F), and once every few years below -20 °C (-4 °F). In recent decades, the coldest record is -29.1 °C (-20.4 °F), set in February 2008.
is quite mild. The average temperature is above freezing even at night four months in a year, 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 and August is around 9 °C (48 °F).
In July and August, rainfall 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.
, one to three days long, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 20 °C (68 °F). Indeed, due to the presence of reliefs in inland areas, a short distance from the coast, the wind coming down from the mountains can have a warming, föhn-like effect. It is no coincidence that Maniitsoq holds the record for the highest temperature in all of Greenland, 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) at the end of July 2013.
is always very cold, but it freezes quite rarely, although this can sometimes happen, in particular in February and March (remember that the sea, being salty, freezes at about -2 °C or 28.5 °F). However, icebergs from glaciers on the mainland often float on the sea.
, since we are south of the Arctic Circle, the sun sets even on the longest days, however, due to the time zone adopted, in June you can see the
, as it sets after 1 am. The
, in which it doesn't get completely dark all night, occur from April 23 to August 19.
In December, at midday the sun is just above the horizon, and the day lasts just over 3 hours.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-7.2 °C, with a minimum of
-9.2 °C and a maximum of
-5.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.5 °C in January 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4 °C. However, it reached
9 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
37 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
19.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.5 °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
-7.8 °C, with a minimum of
-10.5 °C and a maximum of
-5.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-29.1 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4 °C. However, it reached
9.7 °C in February 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
44 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
18.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-7 °C, with a minimum of
-9.9 °C and a maximum of
-4.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-25.4 °C in March 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6 °C. However, it reached
12.3 °C in March 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
48 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.4 °C, with a minimum of
-5.1 °C and a maximum of
0.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.9 °C in April 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7.5 °C. However, it reached
13.4 °C in April 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
49 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
1.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.3 °C, with a minimum of
-0.3 °C and a maximum of
4.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.8 °C in May 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11.5 °C. However, it reached
18.4 °C in May 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
54 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.2 °C, with a minimum of
3.3 °C and a maximum of
9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.6 °C in June 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
84 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the least cold month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9 °C, with a minimum of
5.9 °C and a maximum of
12.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
25.9 °C in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
139 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.8 °C, with a minimum of
6.1 °C and a maximum of
11.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1.4 °C in August 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
23.3 °C in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
154 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.6 °C, with a minimum of
3.4 °C and a maximum of
7.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.9 °C in September 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13 °C. However, it reached
22 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
145 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.4 °C, with a minimum of
-0.7 °C and a maximum of
3.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.9 °C in October 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10 °C. However, it reached
17.8 °C in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
87 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
16.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.9 °C, with a minimum of
-4.8 °C and a maximum of
-1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.5 °C in November 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7 °C. However, it reached
11.6 °C in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
76 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
19.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
1.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-5.6 °C, with a minimum of
-7.5 °C and a maximum of
-3.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-13 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.8 °C in December 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4.5 °C. However, it reached
9 °C in December 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 35 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 69%.
The average wind speed is of
19.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.