Climate in Svalbard (Norway)

In Svalbard, an archipelago belonging to Norway located east of Greenland and about 1,100 km (685 mi) away from the North Pole, the climate is subpolar along the west coast, which is reached by the last branch of the Gulf Stream, while it is polar on the east coast, where the temperature remains around freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) even in summer. In winter, polar ice typically reaches the north and east coasts of the islands, while leaving free the western ones.
It's no coincidence that the settlements (Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, Sveagruva, Pyramiden, Ny-Alesund) are located on the western side of the main island, Spitsbergen, where the temperature in the summer months rises above freezing, albeit by a few degrees.
In Longyearbyen, the capital, the average temperature of the coldest month (March) is of -12.2 °C (10 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F).
Svalbard is one of the areas most affected by climate change in the world, it is enough to think that the average of the coldest five months (December to April) in Longyearbyen was -17.8 °C (0 °F) in the period 1961-1990, so it has increased by almost 4 degrees Celsius in thirty years. In July, however, the average increased by 0.7 °C.
Here are the average temperatures.

The clash between air masses of different origin gives rise to unstable and windy weather for much of the year, while in summer, the meeting of currents can lead to fog, especially offshore.
The islands are property of Norway, but in the past, there were also Soviets settlements (Barentsburg, Pyramiden, though the latter is now abandoned), and there are still Russians inhabitants.
In inland areas, there are some elevations, snow-covered all year round, from which glacial tongues descend, eventually flowing to the sea. The highest peak, Newtontoppen, reaches 1,713 meters (5,620 feet). In summer, you can also ski.
The wind is frequent throughout the year, although it calms down a bit from June to August.
The northernmost tip of Svalbard is only one thousand kilometers (600 miles) away from the North Pole.
Being that they are well beyond the Arctic Circle, in the Svalbards there is the midnight sun in summer and the polar night in winter, which can, however, be illuminated by the northern lights. In Longyearbyen, whose latitude is 78°13'N, the sun never sets from April 20 to August 25, while it never rises from October 26 to February 15.
The islands are a cruise destination, to watch fjords and glaciers, or animals like polar bears, whales and seals, in addition to the millions of migratory birds that arrive in summer.



Precipitation is not abundant, since it is lower than 250 millimeters (10 inches) per year within the western fjords, but it's frequent, and mainly occurs in the form of light snow. In summer, it takes the form of rain or drizzle, at least at sea level. Along the most exposed coasts and on the mountain slopes, precipitation is more abundant, and can reach 1,000 mm (40 in) per year.
Here is the average precipitation in Longyearbyen.

Winter is long (going from October to May) and freezing, with frequent snowfalls, usually in the form of light snow. April and May are still freezing months, but with 24 hours of daylight, they are very different from the dark winter months.
The coldest records are very low, -40 °C (-40 °F) in Barentsburg and -46 °C (-51 °F) in Longyearbyen, both registered in March 1986, but these values are actually reached very rarely, also because, as mentioned, the climate at high latitudes has warmed significantly: so, today it is more likely for the temperature to drop, in the coldest days of the year, to -25/-30 °C (-13/-22 °F). In the 1990s, in Longyearbyen it dropped to -38 °C (-36.5 °F) in January 1992 and to -37 °C (-35.5 °F) in January 1997, while from 2000 to 2020, it only hit a low of -32 °C (-25.5 °F) in January 2009.
Sometimes, the temperature can exceed freezing by a few degrees and it can rain even in winter, and this typically happens when a cold wave is about to occur in Europe: in fact, there is a heat exchange, so, warm air masses from the south come this far, and in return, polar air masses move towards the south.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is cold: in June and September, the temperature is just above freezing, while in July and August, the warmest months, the average is around 5.5/6 °C (42/43 °F).
In the warmest days of the year, the temperature can reach 15/17 °C (59/63 °F) inside the largest fjords, as happens in Isfjorden, where Longyearbyen and Barentsburg are located, while in the "maritime" city of Ny-Alesund, it doesn't go above 13/14 °C (55/57 °F).
In July 2020, the temperature in Longyearbyen reached 21.7 °C (71 °F), and there were four days in a row with highs equal to or above 20 °C (68 °F). Previously, the temperature had hit 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) in July 1979, but otherwise, in most years it had not gone above 18 °C (64.5 °F).



The amount of sunshine in Svalbard is not good, however, it is decent in April and May, and then it gradually decreases, though it remains altogether acceptable from June to August. Of course, the sky is often cloudy, but there is the possibility of seeing the sun for a few hours, given the length of the days, perhaps even at midnight. On average, there are just 1,100 hours of sunshine per year. In winter, as mentioned, the sun does not even rise. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea is very cold throughout the year; as mentioned, the west coast, where there are the main settlements such as Longyearbyen, is generally free of ice.
Here are the average sea temperatures in Longyearbyen.

The Bear Island (Bjørnøya), more than 200 km (125 mi) south of the main islands, is less cold in winter, in fact, the average temperature of the January-March period is -6 °C (21 °F), while in summer, the difference with the main islands is reduced. Here the temperature dropped to -30 °C (-22 °F) in March 1986. Here are the average temperatures.

Best Time

The best months to visit the Svalbards are July and August, since they are the only two months when the temperature is permanently above freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), at least at sea level. Of course, you must bring warm clothes anyway.
If you want to visit the Svalbards in their winter appearance, with snow on the ground and temperatures below freezing, you can choose the months of March (which however is often the coldest of the year) and April, when the days are now very long. To observe the northern lights, however, you need the darkness, so the best period goes from November to January.
The time zone is the same as in Norway and Central Europe, and here too, there is daylight saving time.

The following climate data refer to the Svalbard Airport, Longyear.

Svalbard - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -11.0 °C (12 °F), with a minimum of -14.2 °C (6.4 °F) and a maximum of -7.7 °C (18.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -24.5 °C (-12 °F). However, it dropped to -36.8 °C (-34.2 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it reached 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) in January 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), 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 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 2 °C (35.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -11.7 °C (11 °F), with a minimum of -15 °C (4.9 °F) and a maximum of -8.3 °C (17 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -25 °C (-13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -38.2 °C (-36.8 °F) in February 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it reached 7 °C (44.6 °F) in February 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very short.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 0% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 2 °C (35.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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March, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -12.2 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -15.6 °C (4 °F) and a maximum of -8.8 °C (16.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -26 °C (-14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -34.7 °C (-30.5 °F) in March 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it reached 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 2 °C (35.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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April is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -8.9 °C (16 °F), with a minimum of -12 °C (10.3 °F) and a maximum of -5.7 °C (21.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -21.5 °C (-7 °F). However, it dropped to -29.9 °C (-21.8 °F) in April 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it reached 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 1 °C (34 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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May is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2.0 °C (28 °F), with a minimum of -3.9 °C (25 °F) and a maximum of -0.1 °C (31.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (10.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20.9 °C (-5.6 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it reached 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) in May 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 2 °C (35.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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June is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.9 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (35.9 °F) and a maximum of 5.6 °C (42.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.3 °C (24.3 °F) in June 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it reached 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 3 °C (37.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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July, the least cold month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.4 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) and a maximum of 9.4 °C (49 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in July 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 5 °C (41 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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August is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.3 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) and a maximum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 17.3 °C (63.1 °F) in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 19% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6 °C (43 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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September is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.2 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of 0.3 °C (32.5 °F) and a maximum of 4 °C (39.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.1 °C (13.8 °F) in September 2005.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it reached 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) in September 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 17% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 5 °C (41 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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October is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -3.8 °C (25 °F), with a minimum of -6.1 °C (21.1 °F) and a maximum of -1.5 °C (29.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -13.5 °C (7.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20.8 °C (-5.4 °F) in October 1994.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it reached 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) in October 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 7% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 4 °C (39 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -6.5 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -9.3 °C (15.3 °F) and a maximum of -3.8 °C (25.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -18 °C (-0.5 °F). However, it dropped to -33.2 °C (-27.8 °F) in November 1994.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it reached 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 3 °C (37.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -9.2 °C (15 °F), with a minimum of -12.2 °C (10 °F) and a maximum of -6.1 °C (21 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -22 °C (-7 °F). However, it dropped to -28.5 °C (-19.3 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it reached 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 2 °C (35.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.