AI-generatedIlulissat at a glance
- Best time
- Jul
- Warmest month
- Jul · 12°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 6.4°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,130 h
- Rain a year
- 311 mm
- Climate
- Subarctic
- Time zone
- UTC−2 / UTC−1
- Elevation
- 11 m
Climate in Ilulissat
Ilulissat has a subarctic climate: summers are short and cool, winters long and cold. July is the warmest month with average highs of 12 °C, while February is the coolest at −11 °C. With around 2,130 hours of sunshine a year, Ilulissat is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 12.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Ilulissat
The best time to visit Ilulissat is in July. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 6.4 °C. The wettest month is August with 50 mm of precipitation.
Ilulissat through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Ilulissat in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- −11–3 °C by day
- Sea −1 °C
- 8.4 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days in all
Ilulissat in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 9–12 °C by day
- Sea 5 °C
- 10.8 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days in all
Ilulissat in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- −4–6 °C by day
- Sea 3 °C
- 3.2 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days in all
Ilulissat in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- −11–−6 °C by day
- Sea −1 °C
- 0.8 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Snow
Sep – May
Snow on 2 or more days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Ilulissat for you.
Your best months: May – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: July
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
Keep in mindSnow
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about −5°
- Midday, 13:00: about −1°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 0°
- Evening, 20:00: about −2°
- Night, 23:00: about −3°
09:2918:51
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 08:52–11:01 · evening 17:19–19:28
- Blue hour
- Morning 08:29–08:52 · evening 19:28–19:51
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Ilulissat compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 3° at the start of the month to −2° at the end. The sea cools from 3° to 2°. The days get 4.4 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 3° | −2° |
| Night-time low | −3° | −8° |
| Sea | 3° | 2° |
| Daylight | 11.3 h | 6.9 h |
What is the weather like in Ilulissat in October?
In October, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sea averages 2.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.3 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 7 days, totalling 37 mm; on about 5 of them it snows. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 9 h 21 min09:29 – 18:51
- UV index
- 0 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 13 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 63 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 5 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−1offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %5 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %80 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Nature escape”.
What to pack in October
- Warm jacket
- Hat, scarf & gloves
Compare two months in Ilulissat
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Ilulissat: score 65 against 25. In July, days are 12 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in July. The sun shines 8 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 25 | 65better |
| Daytime high | 0° | 12° |
| Night-time low | −6° | 5° |
| Sea | 2.6° | 6.0° |
| Sunshine | 3.3 h | 11.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 7 | 7 |
| Rainfall | 37 mm | 36 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Ilulissat month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
30January−9° · Sea −1° · 0.1 h
In January, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −9 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−16 °C). The sea averages −0.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 0.1 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 4 days, totalling 14 mm; on about 3 of them it snows. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in January30February−11° · Sea −1° · 2.4 h
In February, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −11 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−18 °C). The sea averages −0.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.4 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 3 days, totalling 9 mm; on about 2 of them it snows. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in February39March−11° · Sea −1° · 5.8 h
In March, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −11 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−19 °C). The sea averages −1.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation falls on about 3 days, totalling 12 mm; on about 3 of them it snows. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in March47April−4° · Sea −1° · 8.4 h
In April, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−11 °C). The sea averages −0.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8.4 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 4 days, totalling 17 mm; on about 4 of them it snows. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in April46May3° · Sea 0° · 11.0 h
In May, Ilulissat is cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sea averages 0.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 11.0 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Precipitation falls on about 6 days, totalling 25 mm; on about 4 of them it snows. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in May53June9° · Sea 3° · 12.5 h
In June, Ilulissat is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 3.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 12.5 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 25 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in June65July12° · Sea 6° · 11.6 h
In July, Ilulissat is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 6.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 11.6 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 36 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in July48August10° · Sea 6° · 8.4 h
In August, Ilulissat is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 6.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8.4 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 50 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in August31September6° · Sea 5° · 5.9 h
In September, Ilulissat is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 4.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 41 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in September25October0° · Sea 3° · 3.3 h
In October, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sea averages 2.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.3 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 7 days, totalling 37 mm; on about 5 of them it snows. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in October24November−4° · Sea 1° · 0.5 h
In November, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−10 °C). The sea averages 1.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 0.5 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 7 days, totalling 26 mm; on about 5 of them it snows. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in November28December−6° · Sea 0° · 0.0 h
In December, Ilulissat is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−12 °C). The sea averages −0.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun stays below the horizon all day (polar night). Precipitation falls on about 5 days, totalling 18 mm; on about 4 of them it snows. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ilulissat.
Ilulissat in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Ilulissat
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
FrostOctober: nights around −6°. Heating and warm bedding are a must.
The coolest nights are in March (−19°), the warmest in July (5°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average all year round, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 30 | −9° | −16° | −0.7° | 0.1 h | 4 | 14 |
| FebruaryFeb | 30 | −11° | −18° | −0.8° | 2.4 h | 3 | 9 |
| MarchMar | 39 | −11° | −19° | −1.0° | 5.8 h | 3 | 12 |
| AprilApr | 47 | −4° | −11° | −0.7° | 8.4 h | 4 | 17 |
| MayMay | 46 | 3° | −3° | 0.3° | 11.0 h | 6 | 25 |
| JuneJun | 53 | 9° | 3° | 3.1° | 12.5 h | 6 | 25 |
| JulyJul | 65 | 12° | 5° | 6.0° | 11.6 h | 7 | 36 |
| AugustAug | 48 | 10° | 3° | 6.4° | 8.4 h | 9 | 50 |
| SeptemberSep | 31 | 6° | 0° | 4.5° | 5.9 h | 8 | 41 |
| OctoberOct | 25 | 0° | −6° | 2.6° | 3.3 h | 7 | 37 |
| NovemberNov | 24 | −4° | −10° | 1.0° | 0.5 h | 7 | 26 |
| DecemberDec | 28 | −6° | −12° | −0.2° | 0.0 h | 5 | 18 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
69.22° N, 51.10° W · 11 m · America/Nuuk
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Ilulissat
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 1.6 – 3.8 °C
Swimming season: Always below 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Ilulissat ranges from −1.0 °C in March to 6.4 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to April the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 3.4 and 8.4 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | −0.7° | −1.4° | 0.1° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | −0.8° | −1.5° | −0.2° | cold |
| MarchMar | −1.0° | −1.6° | −0.2° | cold |
| AprilApr | −0.7° | −1.6° | 0.1° | cold |
| MayMay | 0.3° | −1.2° | 1.2° | cold |
| JuneJun | 3.1° | 1.6° | 5.7° | cold |
| JulyJul | 6.0° | 2.3° | 8.9° | cold |
| AugustAug | 6.4° | 3.4° | 8.4° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 4.5° | 3.4° | 5.1° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 2.6° | 1.6° | 3.8° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 1.0° | −0.1° | 1.7° | cold |
| DecemberDec | −0.2° | −1.0° | 0.4° | cold |
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Ilulissat
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.3 of 9.4 hours of daylight in Ilulissat, 35 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Ilulissat: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Ilulissat has about 7 rainy days with 37 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Ilulissat
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 0 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 4).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- over 2 h
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Ilulissat
How breezy and how cloudy Ilulissat is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Ilulissat typically peaks at 13 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, gentle breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 63 % of the sky over Ilulissat: variable cloud, with about 3.3 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Snow
Snow in Ilulissat
When Ilulissat is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, Ilulissat has about 5 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 19 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 47 out of 100: possible.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Planning a trip to Ilulissat
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Ilulissat in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Ilulissat has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 54) and its weakest during October half-term (score 25).
- 45
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- −6 °C by day
- Sea −1 °C
- 7.6 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 47
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 11.3 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 54
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
FairBest holidays
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 6 °C
- 9.5 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
- 25
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 0 °C by day
- Sea 3 °C
- 3.3 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 29
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −7 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 0.1 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 4 h 25 min
- Distance
- 3,260 km
- Time zone
- UTC−1
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: Greenland
- Currency
- Danish Krone (DKK)
- Language
- Kalaallisut
- Sockets
- Type C, E, F, K · 230 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the right
- Dialling code
- +299
- Emergency number
- 112
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Ilulissat compared
Put Ilulissat side by side with another destination.
Ilulissat vs Aasiaat
In October the holiday weather in Ilulissat and Aasiaat is about equally good (score 25 vs 22). During the day Aasiaat is 1 °C warmer than Ilulissat. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Ilulissat | Aasiaat |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 25 | 22 |
| Daytime high | 0° | 1° |
| Sea | 3° | 3° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 7 | 8 |
| Best time | Jul | Jul |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Greenland in October: the best places
In October, Ilulissat ranks 1 of 10 destinations in this country.
- IlulissatThis page0°3°25
- 2Qaqortoq5°2°24
- 3Uummannaq0°1°23
- 4Narsaq5°3°23
- 5Aasiaat1°3°22
- 6Nanortalik4°2°22
- 7Nuuk3°3°19
- 8Tasiilaq3°2°17
Places nearby
Near Ilulissat
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Ilulissat
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Ilulissat's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Ilulissat
When is the best time to visit Ilulissat?
The best time to visit Ilulissat is in July. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Ilulissat?
The sea temperature in Ilulissat ranges from −1.0 °C in March to 6.4 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Ilulissat in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 2.6 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Ilulissat?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 12 °C and nights around 5 °C. February is the coolest month at −11 °C.
When does it rain most in Ilulissat?
The wettest month is August with 50 mm of precipitation. The driest month is February with 9 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Ilulissat get?
Ilulissat gets around 2,130 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 12.5 hours a day; in December there is practically no direct sun.
What time zone is Ilulissat in?
Ilulissat is on UTC−2 in January and UTC−1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Ilulissat?
A nonstop flight from London to Ilulissat takes about 4 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 3,260 km.
Which school holidays are best for Ilulissat?
Ilulissat has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 54) and its weakest during October half-term (score 25). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 45, May half-term 47, summer holidays 54, October half-term 25, Christmas holidays 29.