Weather by month for central Svalbard and Jan Mayen, the best months to go and how Svalbard and Jan Mayen's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Apr, Jun
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs -7°C to 2°C · 6 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs -10°C to 5°C · 8–13 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -7°C / -10°C | 10 days (31 mm) | 0.0 h/day | 1.1/10 |
| February | -8°C / -12°C | 8 days (33 mm) | 0.4 h/day | 1.5/10 |
| March | -10°C / -14°C | 10 days (38 mm) | 5.0 h/day | 2.3/10 |
| Best month: April | -7°C / -10°C | 6 days (25 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 3.7/10 |
| May | -2°C / -4°C | 8 days (35 mm) | 12.0 h/day | 3.4/10 |
| Best month: June | 2°C / 0°C | 6 days (24 mm) | 13.7 h/day | 3.9/10 |
| July | 5°C / 3°C | 9 days (47 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 3.2/10 |
| August | 5°C / 4°C | 10 days (53 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 3.0/10 |
| September | 3°C / 2°C | 11 days (56 mm) | 4.3 h/day | 1.8/10 |
| October | 1°C / -1°C | 10 days (40 mm) | 1.0 h/day | 1.3/10 |
| November | -2°C / -5°C | 9 days (37 mm) | 0.0 h/day | 1.1/10 |
| December | -4°C / -8°C | 13 days (47 mm) | 0.0 h/day | 0.4/10 |
Figures for central Svalbard and Jan Mayen; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
-7°C / -10°C · 10 rain days · 0.0 h sun
January is deep polar night in Svalbard, with 0 sun hours and a high of -7°C. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. The score sits at 1.1, reflecting the cold and darkness, but this is exactly the month for travellers chasing northern lights under a 24-hour night sky. New Year's Day falls on 1 January.
-8°C / -12°C · 8 rain days · 0.4 h sun
February stays dark, with only 0.4 sun hours and highs near -8°C, the coldest month on record here. Rain days drop to 7.8, but wind chill makes it feel harsher. The score of 1.5 shows tough conditions, though light slowly returns toward month's end, drawing photographers and northern lights seekers.
-10°C / -14°C · 10 rain days · 5.0 h sun
March brings back daylight, with sun hours rising to 5 and highs still at -10°C, the coldest average high of the year. Rain or snow falls about 9.5 days. The score of 2.3 reflects harsh cold, but longer days make this a popular month for snowmobile trips and dog-sledding.
-7°C / -10°C · 6 rain days · 10.8 h sun
April sees highs climb to -6.5°C and sun hours jump to 10.8 as the midnight sun approaches. Rain days fall to 6.3, among the driest spells of the year. The score reaches 3.7, the best of the year, with Easter holidays (Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday) falling in early April bringing more visitors.
-2°C / -4°C · 8 rain days · 12.0 h sun
May highs reach -2.1°C with 12 sun hours a day and 8.1 rain days. The score of 3.4 still points to cold conditions, but snow cover and growing light suit skiing and wildlife viewing. May Day, Ascension Day, Constitution Day, Pentecost and Whit Monday all fall this month.
2°C / 0°C · 6 rain days · 13.7 h sun
June brings the warmest spring temperatures, with a high of 1.7°C and the midnight sun giving 13.7 sun hours. Rain days drop to 5.6, the lowest of the year. The score of 3.9 is the year's highest, making June a reasonable window despite temperatures staying near freezing.
5°C / 3°C · 9 rain days · 11.5 h sun
July is the mildest month, with a high of 4.6°C, though rain increases to 8.9 days and 47mm. Sun hours stay strong at 11.5 under continuous daylight. The score of 3.2 reflects cool, changeable summer weather typical of the Arctic.
5°C / 4°C · 10 rain days · 8.4 h sun
August stays mild with a high of 5.2°C, the warmest of the year, but rain days rise to 10 and rainfall to 53mm. Sun hours drop to 8.4 as nights start returning. The score of 3 shows a wetter but still workable month for boat trips and hiking.
3°C / 2°C · 11 rain days · 4.3 h sun
September cools quickly, with highs at 3.3°C and rain increasing to 11.4 days and 56mm, the wettest month. Sun hours fall sharply to 4.3 as darkness returns. The score drops to 1.8, marking the start of a tougher, wetter autumn stretch.
1°C / -1°C · 10 rain days · 1.0 h sun
October brings highs near 0.6°C and persistent rain or snow on 10 days. Sun hours collapse to just 1 as polar night approaches. The score of 1.3 reflects the fast transition into cold, dark conditions, though some travellers come for early aurora viewing.
-2°C / -5°C · 9 rain days · 0.0 h sun
November has 0 sun hours as full polar night sets in, with highs at -2°C and rain or snow on 9.3 days. The score of 1.1 shows difficult travel conditions, but constant darkness is ideal for dedicated northern lights viewing.
-4°C / -8°C · 13 rain days · 0.0 h sun
December is the lowest-scoring month at 0.4, with 0 sun hours, a high of -4.4°C, and the most rain or snow days of the year at 12.8. Christmas Day and the Second day of Christmas fall this month, drawing a small number of visitors for festive polar-night trips despite the harsh weather.
By trip type
City sightseeing
June and April work best for visiting Svalbard's towns. April offers 10.8 hours of sun daily with temperatures around -6.5°C high, while June brings 13.7 sun hours and milder days near 1.7°C, making walking around easier.
Hiking & nature
Hike in June or April. June's daytime high of 1.7°C and only 5.6 rain days make for the driest, most walkable conditions, while April gives 10.8 hours of sunlight despite colder air near -6.5°C, useful for snow-based routes.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Maundy Thursday (2 Apr), Good Friday (3 Apr), Easter Sunday (5 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr)
Public holidays: May Day (1 May), Ascension Day (14 May), Constitution Day (17 May), Pentecost (24 May), Whit Monday (25 May)
Public holidays: Christmas Day (25 Dec), Second day of Christmas (26 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
July is one of the milder months but still cold. The high is only 4.6°C and the low 3.1°C, with rain on about 8.9 days and 47mm of rainfall. You get 11.5 hours of sun, so daylight is long, but pack warm, waterproof layers whatever you plan to do.
June scores highest in the data, at 3.9 out of the months listed. Highs reach 1.7°C and lows 0.4°C, so it's still near freezing, but rain days drop to 5.6 and rainfall is just 24mm, the driest spell of the year. Sun hours hit 13.7, giving long bright days for exploring.
January is the coldest and darkest month, with a high of -6.8°C, a low of -10.2°C, and 0 sun hours, meaning full polar night. Rain still falls on 9.6 days with 31mm total, often as snow given the sub-zero temperatures. This is the month for northern lights and winter darkness, not warmth.
Sun hours peak in June at 13.7 and stay high through May at 12 and July at 11.5, reflecting the midnight sun period. By September this drops sharply to 4.3 hours, and from October through February it falls to 1 hour or less, including 0 in October's neighbouring months like November, January and December.
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