Qaanaaq (formerly Thule) is a village of 645 inhabitants, located in the northwest of Greenland, in the municipality of Avannaata, on the coast, at 77 degrees north latitude. It is one of the northernmost settlements in the world. In the area are also the villages of Qeqertat and Siorapaluk. The American Thule air base, now Pituffik, is located 100 km (93 mi) to the south.
is very low, since it amounts to to 125 millimeters (5 inches) per year, with a maximum in summer. During the long winter, light snow often falls, but the amount is generally low. July and August are the only months when rain is much more likely than snow.
of the year, which are usually recorded in February and March (as is typical in polar areas), the temperature drops below -30 °C (-22 °F) every year, and can occasionally drop to -40 °C (-40 °F).
, usually of short duration, in which the temperature can reach or exceed 15 °C (59 °F). In recent years, temperatures have sometimes reached 20 °C (68 °F).
in Qaanaaq is always very cold, close to freezing. In winter it can freeze, or there may be icebergs drifting. Remember that the sea, being salty, freezes at about -2 °C (28.5 °F).
is long, and goes from October 29 to February 12.
, during which the sun never sets, goes from April 21st to August 21st. Before and after this period, the
, in which it is not completely dark all night, last six months, for the entire period between the two equinoxes, that is, from March 22 to September 21.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-21.4 °C, with a minimum of
-25.1 °C and a maximum of
-17.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-31.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-37.3 °C in January 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-5.5 °C. However, it reached
5.9 °C in January 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only
6 mm, distributed over 2 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 sea temperature is of
-1.8 °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
-22.7 °C, with a minimum of
-26.6 °C and a maximum of
-18.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-33 °C. However, it dropped to
-38.7 °C in February 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-6.5 °C. However, it reached
4.1 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 8% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-21.4 °C, with a minimum of
-26.2 °C and a maximum of
-16.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-33.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-40.5 °C in March 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-6 °C. However, it reached
9.8 °C in March 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only
4 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-13.8 °C, with a minimum of
-19.1 °C and a maximum of
-8.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-28 °C. However, it dropped to
-35.5 °C in April 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
0 °C. However, it reached
5.5 °C in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only
6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.1 °C, with a minimum of
-8.3 °C and a maximum of
0.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-23.6 °C in May 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7.5 °C. However, it reached
13.7 °C in May 2012.
Precipitation amounts to only
7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There 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 sea temperature is of
-1.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.3 °C, with a minimum of
0 °C and a maximum of
6.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.3 °C in June 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
17.6 °C in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to only
7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
-0.7 °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
6.7 °C, with a minimum of
3.4 °C and a maximum of
10 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-3 °C in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
20.4 °C in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
16 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
0.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.7 °C, with a minimum of
3 °C and a maximum of
8.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.9 °C in August 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
17.6 °C in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
24 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
1.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.1 °C, with a minimum of
-2.4 °C and a maximum of
2.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11 °C in September 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
13.3 °C in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
18 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average sea temperature is of
1.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6.6 °C, with a minimum of
-9 °C and a maximum of
-4.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-19.7 °C in October 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
3.5 °C. However, it reached
12.5 °C in October 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
12 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average sea temperature is of
-0.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-12.6 °C, with a minimum of
-15.5 °C and a maximum of
-9.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-22 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.1 °C in November 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
0.5 °C. However, it reached
9 °C in November 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average sea temperature is of
-1.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-18 °C, with a minimum of
-21.4 °C and a maximum of
-14.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-28.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-34.1 °C in December 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-4.5 °C. However, it reached
7 °C in December 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only
8 mm, distributed over 2 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 sea temperature is of
-1.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.