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 sits at -8.5°C with 14 rain or snow days, and sun hours drop to just 1.5. The score is 1.1, the lowest of the year, reflecting dark, cold conditions with little daylight. New Year's Day and Epiphany (6 January) fall in this month, but this is polar-night territory rather than a time for sightseeing outdoors.
-10°C / -16°C · 12 rain days · 3.7 h sun · sea -2°C
Temperatures stay low, with a high of -9.9°C and lows near -15.6°C, though rain days ease slightly to 12.4. The score of 2.2 shows conditions are still harsh, though sun hours rise to 3.7 as daylight starts returning. No holidays fall this month.
-7°C / -12°C · 11 rain days · 6.6 h sun · sea -2°C
The high climbs to -6.7°C and rain days drop to 10.8, with sun hours up to 6.6. The score reaches 3.2, better than midwinter but still marked by sub-zero temperatures and a frozen sea at -1.7°C.
-1°C / -6°C · 10 rain days · 8.2 h sun · sea -1°C
April brings the high just below freezing at -0.7°C, with 9.6 rain days and 8.2 sun hours as light returns fast. The score is 3.3. Easter holidays cluster here, with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday all falling in early April 2026.
2°C / -2°C · 9 rain days · 10.8 h sun · sea 0°C
The high reaches 2.4°C, sea temperature is still near freezing at 0.3°C, and rain days fall to 8.6, the lowest of the year. The score of 3.5 reflects a thaw that's underway but still chilly. General Prayer Day, Ascension Day, Bank closing day, Pentecost and Whit Monday all fall in May 2026.
8°C / 3°C · 12 rain days · 9.4 h sun · sea 3°C
June's high reaches 8°C but rain days jump to 12, with 107mm of rainfall, the wettest reading of the first half of the year. The score of 3.7 shows mixed conditions: warmer air but more rain. Ullortuneq, Greenland's national day, is celebrated on 21 June.
12°C / 6°C · 10 rain days · 10.6 h sun · sea 5°C
July is the warmest month, with a high of 11.6°C, a low of 5.8°C and sea temperature reaching 5.2°C. Rain days drop to 10.1. The score climbs to 5.5, the year's best, making this a reasonable window for outdoor travel.
11°C / 6°C · 10 rain days · 8.7 h sun · sea 6°C
August stays mild with a high of 11°C and a low of 5.5°C, and sea temperature peaks at 5.9°C. Rain days are 9.9, similar to July. The score of 5 keeps this month in line with July as the most workable time to visit.
7°C / 2°C · 12 rain days · 7.1 h sun · sea 4°C
The high drops to 6.9°C and rain days rise to 11.9, with 109mm of rainfall, the wettest month on record here. The score falls to 2.9 as conditions turn cooler and wetter heading into autumn.
1°C / -4°C · 11 rain days · 5.3 h sun · sea 3°C
October's high is 1.2°C, with lows down to -3.9°C and 91mm of rain over 10.6 days. The score drops to 2.3, reflecting the shift back toward winter cold and shorter days, with sun hours down to 5.3.
-4°C / -9°C · 11 rain days · 2.6 h sun · sea 1°C
The high falls to -4°C and sun hours shrink to 2.6, with 10.7 rain or snow days. The score of 1.4 shows conditions turning harsh again as the sea cools to 1.1°C and darkness closes in.
-6°C / -12°C · 11 rain days · 1.1 h sun · sea 0°C
December's high is -6.2°C, with lows near -11.8°C and just 1.1 sun hours, among the darkest readings of the year. The score of 1.3 reflects deep winter cold. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day and New Year's Eve all fall this month.
By trip type
City sightseeing
July and August are best for exploring Nuuk and other towns. Highs reach 11-12°C, sun hours peak at 8.7-10.6, and streets are free of ice, making walking and sightseeing comfortable.
Beach
May and July suit coastal trips, though for different reasons. May brings 10.8 sun hours and calmer, drier weather with only 8.6 rain days, while July offers the warmest sea temperature of the year at 5.2°C.
Hiking & nature
July and August are the top months for hiking, with highs of 11-11.6°C and lows staying above 5°C. Trails are clear of snow and daylight hours remain long, giving plenty of time on foot.
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 the year. Nuuk highs reach 11.6°C and lows stay around 5.8°C, so it's the warmest month. Sea temperature hits 5.2°C, and you get about 10.6 hours of sun a day, with rain on roughly 10 days.
Yes, August scores 5 out of the year, close behind July as the second-best month. Highs average 11°C and lows 5.5°C in Nuuk, with sea temperature peaking at 5.9°C, the warmest of the year. You can expect about 8.7 hours of sun daily and rain on roughly 10 days.
Winter months score low: January sits at 1.1 and December at 1.3, the weakest scores of the year. Nuuk highs stay around -8.5°C in January and -6.2°C in December, with lows near -14°C to -11.8°C. Sun hours drop to just 1.1 to 1.5 per day, reflecting the dark polar season, though this is when some travellers come specifically for snow and northern lights.
July is the warmest month, with a Nuuk high of 11.6°C and a low of 5.8°C. August follows closely with an 11°C high. Sea temperature also peaks in these two months, reaching 5.2°C in July and 5.9°C in August, making them the only months the sea gets above 5°C.
Enter to search · Esc to close