Longyearbyen weather in May
Temperature, sea and sunshine in May: long-term averages from 30 years of weather data, not a forecast.
Holiday weather in May
Fair
Best time to visit: April – June
What is the weather like in Longyearbyen in May?
In May, Longyearbyen is freezing cold: daytime highs average −2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sea averages 0.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 6 days, totalling 23 mm. Snow falls on about 6 days. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Longyearbyen.
May compared
How the weather changes from April to June. Tap a month to open it.
More details for May
- Daylight
- Midnight sun
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 12 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 74 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 6 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Arctic/Longyearbyen
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %100 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %83 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in May
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Warm jacket
- Hat, scarf & gloves
Longyearbyen in May: quick answers
Is Longyearbyen hot in May?
No. In May, Longyearbyen is freezing cold: daytime highs average −2 °C and nights drop to about −5 °C.
Can you swim in Longyearbyen in May?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in May the sea averages just 0.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
Does it rain much in Longyearbyen in May?
Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 23 mm.
Longyearbyen month by month
The whole year in LongyearbyenAll destinations: SvalbardWhere to go in MaySea temperature in May
Climate averages 1996–2025, 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