Weather by month for Nuuk, the best months to go and how Greenland's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jul, Aug
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 11°C to 12°C · 10 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs -10°C to 8°C · 9–14 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine, sea temperature and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -9°C / -14°C | 14 days (80 mm) | 1.5 h/day | -2°C | 1.1/10 |
| February | -10°C / -16°C | 12 days (62 mm) | 3.7 h/day | -2°C | 2.2/10 |
| March | -7°C / -12°C | 11 days (55 mm) | 6.6 h/day | -2°C | 3.2/10 |
| April | -1°C / -6°C | 10 days (88 mm) | 8.2 h/day | -1°C | 3.3/10 |
| May | 2°C / -2°C | 9 days (60 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 0°C | 3.5/10 |
| June | 8°C / 3°C | 12 days (107 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 3°C | 3.7/10 |
| Best month: July | 12°C / 6°C | 10 days (68 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 5°C | 5.5/10 |
| Best month: August | 11°C / 6°C | 10 days (77 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 6°C | 5.0/10 |
| September | 7°C / 2°C | 12 days (109 mm) | 7.1 h/day | 4°C | 2.9/10 |
| October | 1°C / -4°C | 11 days (91 mm) | 5.3 h/day | 3°C | 2.3/10 |
| November | -4°C / -9°C | 11 days (91 mm) | 2.6 h/day | 1°C | 1.4/10 |
| December | -6°C / -12°C | 11 days (68 mm) | 1.1 h/day | 0°C | 1.3/10 |
Figures for Nuuk; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
-9°C / -14°C · 14 rain days · 1.5 h sun · sea -2°C
Nuuk's high is -8.5°C and lows reach -14°C, with 14 rain or snow days. Sun hours are low, just 1.5 a day, so days stay dark. The score is 1.1, a clear avoid month for general travel. New Year's Day and Epiphany fall here, but this is deep winter with tough, cold conditions.
-10°C / -16°C · 12 rain days · 3.7 h sun · sea -2°C
Highs stay near -9.9°C and lows fall to -15.6°C, with about 12 rain days. Sun hours rise slightly to 3.7. The score of 2.2 keeps this an avoid month. Cold, dark winter conditions continue, good only if you want snow and polar light rather than comfort.
-7°C / -12°C · 11 rain days · 6.6 h sun · sea -2°C
Temperatures climb a bit to -6.7°C highs, -12°C lows, with 10.8 rain days. Sun hours reach 6.6, a real jump from midwinter. The score is 3.2, still an avoid verdict. Winter cold persists but daylight is returning fast.
-1°C / -6°C · 10 rain days · 8.2 h sun · sea -1°C
Highs move above zero for the first time, at -0.7°C, though lows stay at -5.7°C. Rain days drop to 9.6 but rainfall rises to 88mm. Sun hours hit 8.2. The score is 3.3, an avoid month, with Easter holidays (2-6 April) falling in this thaw period.
2°C / -2°C · 9 rain days · 10.8 h sun · sea 0°C
Highs reach 2.4°C and lows are -2.3°C, with 8.6 rain days, the lowest count of the year. Sun hours climb to 10.8. The score is 3.5, still avoid, as sea temperature stays near freezing at 0.3°C. General Prayer Day, Ascension Day and Pentecost all fall this month.
8°C / 3°C · 12 rain days · 9.4 h sun · sea 3°C
Highs reach 8°C and lows 2.5°C, genuinely mild for Greenland. Rain days rise to 12 with 107mm total, the wettest month. Sun hours are 9.4. The score is 3.7, an avoid verdict despite the warmer air, and Ullortuneq (21 June) marks the longest day.
12°C / 6°C · 10 rain days · 10.6 h sun · sea 5°C
This is the warmest month, with highs of 11.6°C and lows of 5.8°C. Rain days drop to 10.1 and sun hours reach 10.6. Sea temperature peaks later, but is already 5.2°C. The score is 5.5, the year's best, marked as ok.
11°C / 6°C · 10 rain days · 8.7 h sun · sea 6°C
Highs stay high at 11°C, lows at 5.5°C, with 9.9 rain days. Sea temperature is the year's warmest at 5.9°C. Sun hours ease slightly to 8.7. The score is 5, still ok, making this the second-best window alongside July.
7°C / 2°C · 12 rain days · 7.1 h sun · sea 4°C
Highs fall to 6.9°C and lows to 1.9°C as autumn sets in. Rain days climb back to 11.9 with 109mm, matching June as the wettest month. Sun hours drop to 7.1. The score falls to 2.9, an avoid month as conditions turn colder and wetter fast.
1°C / -4°C · 11 rain days · 5.3 h sun · sea 3°C
Highs drop to 1.2°C and lows to -3.9°C, with 10.6 rain days and 91mm of rain. Sun hours fall sharply to 5.3. The score is 2.3, an avoid month, as Greenland heads back into its long dark season.
-4°C / -9°C · 11 rain days · 2.6 h sun · sea 1°C
Highs fall below freezing again, to -4°C, with lows of -9.3°C. Rain or snow days stay near 10.7 and sun hours drop to just 2.6. The score is 1.4, an avoid month, with cold, dark conditions typical of early winter.
-6°C / -12°C · 11 rain days · 1.1 h sun · sea 0°C
Highs reach only -6.2°C and lows -11.8°C, with 11.2 rain or snow days. Sun hours are at their lowest alongside January, just 1.1 a day. The score is 1.3, an avoid month overall, though Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day bring festive dates during the polar night.
By trip type
City sightseeing
July and August are the best months for exploring Nuuk and other towns. Highs reach 11-11.6°C, with 8.7-10.6 hours of sun a day, making it comfortable to walk around and sightsee.
Beach
May and July work best near the coast, though for different reasons. July brings the warmest sea temperature at 5.2°C, while May offers 10.8 hours of sun despite a cooler sea at 0.3°C.
Hiking & nature
July and August suit hiking best, with daytime highs of 11-11.6°C and lows staying above 5°C. Rain falls on about 10 days each month, but long daylight hours (8.7-10.6 hours of sun) leave plenty of time for trails.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan), Epiphany (6 Jan)
Public holidays: Maundy Thursday (2 Apr), Good Friday (3 Apr), Easter Sunday (5 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr)
Public holidays: General Prayer Day (1 May), Ascension Day (14 May), Bank closing day (15 May), Pentecost (24 May), Whit Monday (25 May)
Public holidays: Ullortuneq (21 Jun)
Public holidays: Christmas Eve (24 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec), St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec), New Year's Eve (31 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes, July is one of the two best months, with a score of 5.5 out of 10. Nuuk highs reach 11.6°C and lows stay around 5.8°C, the warmest of the year. Sea temperature hits 5.2°C, and you get 10.6 hours of sun a day, so it's a solid pick for hiking and boat trips.
Yes, August scores 5 out of 10 and is rated ok, close behind July. Highs average 11°C and lows 5.5°C, with sea temperature peaking at 5.9°C, the warmest water of the year. Sun hours drop slightly to 8.7, and rain picks up a little, but conditions still suit outdoor travel.
January is the toughest month, scoring just 1.1 out of 10. Nuuk highs average -8.5°C and lows -14°C, with only 1.5 hours of sun a day and 14 rain days. It still suits travellers chasing polar night and winter landscapes, but it's not an easy-weather month.
July and August are the best months, both rated ok rather than avoid, with scores of 5.5 and 5 out of 10. This is when Nuuk sees its warmest air temperatures (11 to 11.6°C highs), warmest sea (5.2 to 5.9°C), and the most comfortable mix of daylight and manageable rain.
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