Weather in Longyearbyen

Planning your day in Longyearbyen? Check out the freshest weather data, forecasts, and useful charts right here in this section.

Longyearbyen, located on the Svalbard archipelago, is characterized by a harsh Arctic climate. The weather here remains cold for most of the year, with temperatures rarely rising significantly above freezing even during the warmest summer months. Be prepared for even summer days to be cool, while winters are truly frosty.

In Longyearbyen, two main seasons are clearly distinguishable. A long and very cold winter lasts roughly from October to May, when average temperatures fluctuate in the range of -10°C to -15°C, often dropping even lower. Summer, conversely, is short and cool, covering the period from June to August. During this time, average temperatures usually stay within the range of +1°C to +6°C. Spring and autumn are very short here and are also distinguished by low temperatures.

One of the notable features of Longyearbyen's climate is the extremely low amount of precipitation throughout the year, usually not exceeding 1-2 mm per month. Despite this, the number of days with precipitation, which most often falls as snow or fine icy drizzle, can be quite significant, especially from September to February. These conditions form a kind of polar desert – cold and dry.

The climate of Longyearbyen is characterized by significant annual temperature fluctuations, yet it remains cool here even during the warmest months. The annual temperature range extends from severe winter frosts to moderately cool summers. The coldest month is typically March, when the average monthly temperature drops to -15.4°C, and minimum nighttime temperatures can reach -17.5°C. February is slightly warmer with an average temperature of -12.8°C. In contrast, the warmest month is considered to be July, when the average temperature rises to +5.7°C, and daytime highs can reach +7.2°C.

The winter period in Longyearbyen is long and truly frosty. From October to May, average monthly temperatures consistently stay below freezing. The most severe conditions are observed from December to March, when average day and night temperatures fluctuate from -10°C to -15°C, and sometimes lower. For instance, in January, the average temperature is -12.5°C (with a minimum of -14.5°C and a maximum of -10.6°C). Temperature fluctuations between day and night during the winter months are usually small, averaging about 2-4 degrees, which is typical for polar latitudes.

Summer in Longyearbyen is short and cool, covering primarily June, July, and August. In June, the average temperature barely crosses the freezing mark, sitting at +1.4°C (from +0.4°C to +2.5°C). July brings relative warming with temperatures from +4.3°C to +7.2°C. In August, it becomes slightly cooler again, with the average temperature holding at +4.7°C. Even at the height of summer, the weather remains crisp, and warm clothes will be absolutely necessary. The transition seasons – spring (May) and autumn (September-October) – are also cold. In May, the average temperature is -4.1°C, and in September it already drops to +0.3°C, heralding the imminent arrival of winter.

Precipitation in Longyearbyen, located on the Svalbard archipelago, is characterized by an extremely low average annual amount, which is typical for polar deserts. There is no distinct rainy season or, conversely, a dry period in the conventional sense. Precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, amounting to just 1-2 mm per month. This means that heavy downpours or abundant snowfalls are a great rarity here.

Given the prevailing low temperatures, most precipitation in Longyearbyen falls as snow. Snow cover can form and persist for most of the year. Even in the short summer months, such as July and August, when the temperature rises above freezing (averaging up to +5.7°C and +4.7°C respectively), precipitation, if it occurs, is most often in the form of drizzling rain or wet snow. In June, with an average temperature of +1.4°C, mixed precipitation is also possible. In September, when the average temperature hovers around zero (+0.3°C), precipitation typically has a mixed character: it can be snow, wet snow, or even rain. From October to May, when average monthly temperatures confidently stay below the freezing point, precipitation falls predominantly as snow.

Despite the small amount, days with precipitation in Longyearbyen are not that rare. The highest number of days with precipitation falls in September and November (an average of 14 days each). Precipitation is also observed quite frequently in August (13 days), January, February, July, and December (12 days each). The "driest" month in terms of precipitation frequency is June, when only 7 days on average record precipitation. In terms of volume, months with 2 mm of precipitation (January, February, July, August, September, November, December) marginally exceed months with 1 mm (March, April, May, June, October). In any case, even during the "wettest" periods, the total amount of falling moisture remains minimal.

When packing for Longyearbyen, remember that the key principle when choosing clothes is layering. The weather on Svalbard is generally cold year-round, with low temperatures and piercing winds, so proper gear is extremely important. Regardless of the season, you will need high-quality windproof and waterproof outerwear, as even light precipitation (most often as snow or icy drizzle) combined with wind can feel very uncomfortable. Comfortable, sturdy, and waterproof shoes with good tread are another mandatory element of your wardrobe for comfortable walks and excursions across rough terrain.

In winter (approximately from October to May), when average temperatures range from -10°C to -15°C, and minimums can drop even lower, your luggage should include: thermal underwear (top and bottom), several layers of warm clothing (for example, fleece jackets, woollen sweaters), a very warm down or synthetic parka with a hood, and insulated waterproof trousers. A warm hat that covers the ears, a scarf or balaclava, and warm mittens or gloves (preferably several pairs, including windproof over-mitts) are also mandatory. In summer (June-August), despite it being the warmest period with average temperatures from +1°C to +6°C, warm clothing is still necessary. It is recommended to take a base layer (e.g., thin thermal underwear), a fleece jacket, a light but warm jacket, as well as a windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers. Even in summer, do not forget a hat, gloves, and warm socks, as the weather can change quickly.

Besides essential clothing, there are several useful accessories. In the summer months, during the polar day, be sure to take sunglasses and sunscreen with a high SPF, as the sun can be very active, especially when reflecting off snow and water. A small but durable backpack will be useful for day excursions to carry water, snacks, spare gloves, or a camera. Given the dry Arctic air, moisturizing cream for hands and face, as well as lip balm, will be beneficial. Although the amount of precipitation is low, it can be frequent, so a waterproof cover for your backpack may also prove useful.