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Climate - South Georgia


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - South Georgia

Map - South Georgia

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Index


  • Introduction - Grytviken, Bird Island
  • When to go
  • What to pack

Introduction



In South Georgia, an island of the southern Atlantic Ocean administered by the United Kingdom, there is a maritime subpolar climate, with cold and windy weather all year round.
The island, about 170 km (105 mi) long, is located at almost 55 degrees south latitude, and is exposed to the intense and incessant flow of the westerly winds, which bring disturbances, able to cause rain or snow throughout the year.
Given the temperatures, snowfall is more likely to occur from mid-April to October, but it can sometimes occur even in summer and at sea level. Strong winds blow throughout the year, and the humidity is consistently high.

In inland areas, where hills and mountains are found, the climate gets colder, and given the low summer temperatures, glaciers cover most of the island from an altitude of only 300 meters (1,000 feet), and some glacial tongues descend by gravity to the sea.
With increasing altitude, snowfall becomes more likely even in summer. The highest peak is Mount Paget, 2,935 meters (9,629 feet) high.

King Edward Point

About 500 km (310 mi) to the southeast we find smaller islands, belonging to the same British administration, the South Sandwich Islands.
Nearby Grytviken, a former whaling station, is the settlement of King Edward Point, the de facto capital of South Georgia and the South Sandwiches.

Grytviken

In the small settlement of Grytviken, located on the east coast of the island, in a sheltered bay, the average temperature ranges from -1 °C (30 °F) in July to 6.5 °C (43.5 °F) in February.
In winter, from June to August, after outbreaks of cold air masses from Antarctica, the temperature can drop to -10/-12 °C (10/14 °F). However, after a while, the westerlies usually start to blow again, therefore, severe frost doesn't last long.
In summer , from December to March, and occasionally also in November, there may be very mild periods, in which the temperature can reach 20/22 °C (68/71.5 °F). In January 2006 it reached 23 °C (73.5 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.
Grytviken - Average temperatures (2005-2015)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January2.59.76.1364943
February2.810.26.5375043.7
March2.59.56364942.8
April0.56.33.4334338.1
May-1.64.31.3294034.4
June-2.62.1-0.2273631.6
July-3.71.5-1.1253530
August-3.62.2-0.7263630.7
September-2.44.31284033.7
October-0.36.23314337.3
November1.184.6344640.2
December1.995.4354841.8
Year-0.36.12.931.54337

Annual precipitation in Grytviken amounts to 1,400 millimeters (55 inches) per year, and it's well distributed over the seasons, although it drops slightly below 100 mm (4 in) per month from September to January, that is, between spring and early summer.
On the other hand, it hovers between 115 and 145 mm (4.5 and 5.7 in) per month between February and August, that is, from late summer to late winter. Here is the average precipitation.
Grytviken - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January953.712
February1154.513
March1355.314
April1355.314
May1455.712
June1355.315
July1405.515
August1355.314
September953.711
October803.112
November953.711
December853.311
Year139554.9154

In South Georgia, the amount of sunshine is scarce, especially in winter, when the sun is almost never seen. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Grytviken - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5150
February5.5160
March4125
April265
May135
June0.510
July0.520
August2.575
September4125
October5.5170
November6175
December5.5165
Year3.51280

South Georgia

The sea is very cold throughout the year, and it approaches the freezing point in winter and spring; it is useful to recall that the sea, being salty, freezes at about -2 °C (28 °F).
Grytviken - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January337
February337
March337
April337
May236
June134
July134
August032
September032
October032
November134
December236
Year1.634.8

Bird Island

In the areas most exposed to ocean winds, summer is even colder. On the small Bird Island, located in the extreme west, near the main island, the temperature in February, the hottest month, is only 4 °C (39 °F). Even mild days are rarer, in fact the temperature rarely exceeds 10 °C (50 °F). In February 2021 it reached 13 °C (55.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Bird Island - Average temperatures (2001-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January2.15.23.6364138.6
February2.45.43.9364239
March25.13.6364138.4
April0.942.4343936.4
May-0.82.50.8313633.5
June-1.81.5-0.2293531.7
July-21.3-0.4283431.4
August-2.70.7-1273330.2
September-1.91.3-0.3293431.5
October-0.82.10.6313633.2
November0.23.41.8323835.2
December1.24.32.8344037
Year-0.13.11.4531.837.534.5

When to go



The best time to visit South Georgia is the austral summer, from December to March, and especially from January to March, when temperatures are higher.
During this period, you will be able to observe various animal species in reproduction, including penguins, seals and elephant seals, as well as birds such as albatrosses, terns and gulls.
The islands can only be reached by sea, usually from Ushuaia, Argentina.
It must be said that, even in this period, the weather is often not good: the temperature is low, it can rain, the wind often blows, and in inland hills and mountains (but sometimes, even on the coast), it can snow. It will therefore be useful to bring warm clothes, hoping to have the chance to remove the outer layers on warmer days, when the temperature can approach 20 °C (68 °F).

What to pack



In winter (June to August): bring warm clothes, a fleece, a down jacket, a wind jacket, a warm hat, gloves, a scarf, a raincoat, and hiking boots.
In summer (December to March): bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a raincoat, a down jacket, a hat, and hiking boots; the outwer layer can be removed on warmer days. For inland mountains and Mount Paget, bring warm clothes like in winter.

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