, although with maritime influences, with very cold winters, during which the temperature is normally below freezing, and very cool summers.
Tasiilaq (in Danish Ammassalik or Angmagssalik), a town belonging to the municipality of Sermersooq, with 2,000 inhabitants is the largest inhabited center on the east coast of Greenland, and is located at 65 degrees north latitude (the same as northern Iceland, which is located to the east).
The east coast of Greenland, crossed by a cold current, subject to the katabatic wind called
, and with the ice cap reaching almost everywhere to the sea, is decidedly less hospitable than the west coast, where the capital and the main settlements are located. In fact, Tasiilaq, together with some villages in the area such as Kulusuk, is isolated from the rest of the inhabited centers of the large island.
is moderate, since it amounts to 915 millimeters (36 inches) per year, with a maximum from November to March. In winter it almost always occurs in the form of snow, in spring and autumn there is an alternation of rain and snowfall, while in summer, at least in July and August, rain prevails.
is long, in fact the average temperature is below freezing from November to April. The average temperature from January to March is around -6 °C (21 °F).
The ground is normally covered in snow.
, the temperature drops below -15 °C (5 °F) almost every year, and once every few years below -20 °C (-4 °F). The coldest record is -29.5 °C (-21.1 °F), set on March 1, 1978. In March 1969, the daily average was -13.4 °C (7.9 °F).
is quite cold. The average temperature exceeds freezing even at night four months of the year, but since the daily average does not exceed 10 °C (50 °F) in any month, the climate is considered polar. The average in July and August is about 7 °C (44.5 °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, however, it can sometimes snow.
, from one to three days, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 20 °C (68 °F). The highest record is 25.3 °C (77.5 °F), set in July 2005.
is always very cold, and in the coldest periods it can freeze, most likely in the months of February and March (remember that the sea, being salty, freezes at about -2 °C or 28.5 °F). In summer, icebergs from the glaciers of the mainland 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 the second half of June you can see the
, since the sun sets around 1 am. The
, in which it is not completely dark all night, occur from April 23 to August 20.
In December, the sun is just above the horizon at midday, and the day is just over 3 hours long.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6.1 °C, with a minimum of
-8.9 °C and a maximum of
-3.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-25.6 °C in January 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4 °C. However, it reached
9.7 °C in January 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
113.2 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 1% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
1.1 °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
-6.1 °C, with a minimum of
-9.2 °C and a maximum of
-3.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-22.4 °C in February 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
3.5 °C. However, it reached
7.1 °C in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
99.3 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 25 minutes.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 14% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-5.9 °C, with a minimum of
-9.2 °C and a maximum of
-2.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-22.1 °C in March 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4.5 °C. However, it reached
9.7 °C in March 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
93.6 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.2 °C, with a minimum of
-5.7 °C and a maximum of
1.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-13 °C. However, it dropped to
-22.4 °C in April 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7.5 °C. However, it reached
15.2 °C in April 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
75.4 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.4 °C, with a minimum of
-1.8 °C and a maximum of
4.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.3 °C in May 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10.5 °C. However, it reached
15.5 °C in May 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
58.3 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.9 °C, with a minimum of
1.3 °C and a maximum of
8.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.4 °C in June 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
20.8 °C in June 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
34.9 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.2 °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
7.2 °C, with a minimum of
3.5 °C and a maximum of
10.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.9 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
25.3 °C in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
39.4 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7 °C, with a minimum of
3.8 °C and a maximum of
10.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.5 °C in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
19.4 °C in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
58.8 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
5.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.3 °C, with a minimum of
1.7 °C and a maximum of
6.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.9 °C in September 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11.5 °C. However, it reached
17.6 °C in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
89.8 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.1 °C, with a minimum of
-2.2 °C and a maximum of
2.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.3 °C in October 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8.5 °C. However, it reached
13.5 °C in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
71 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 19% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.8 °C, with a minimum of
-5.2 °C and a maximum of
-0.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11 °C. However, it dropped to
-16 °C in November 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6.5 °C. However, it reached
13.6 °C in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
91.4 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 6% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.9 °C, with a minimum of
-7.6 °C and a maximum of
-2.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-15 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.5 °C in December 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5.5 °C. However, it reached
12.6 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 0% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.