AI-generatedQaqortoq at a glance
- Best time
- Jul – Aug
- Warmest month
- Jul · 11°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 4.6°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,790 h
- Rain a year
- 1,076 mm
- Climate
- Subarctic
- Time zone
- UTC−2 / UTC−1
- Elevation
- 0 m
Climate in Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq has a subarctic climate: summers are short and cool, winters long and cold. July is the warmest month with average highs of 11 °C, while January is the coolest at −2 °C. With around 1,790 hours of sunshine a year, Qaqortoq is moderately sunny; May is the sunniest month with 8.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Qaqortoq
The best time to visit Qaqortoq is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 4.6 °C. The wettest month is September with 133 mm of precipitation.
Qaqortoq through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Qaqortoq in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 0–7 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Qaqortoq in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 9–11 °C by day
- Sea 3 °C
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Qaqortoq in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 2–9 °C by day
- Sea 3 °C
- 3.9 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Qaqortoq in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- −2–−1 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 2.2 h of sun a day
- 32 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
Oct – May
Snow on 2 or more days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Qaqortoq for you.
Your best months: April – June
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 – August
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
Keep in mindSnow
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 1°
- Midday, 13:00: about 4°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 5°
- Evening, 20:00: about 3°
- Night, 23:00: about 2°
08:4218:57
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 08:16–09:43 · evening 17:57–19:24
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:59–08:16 · evening 19:24–19:40
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 Qaqortoq compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 7° at the start of the month to 3° at the end. The sea cools from 3° to 2°. The days get 2.7 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 7° | 3° |
| Night-time low | 2° | −2° |
| Sea | 3° | 2° |
| Daylight | 11.5 h | 8.8 h |
What is the weather like in Qaqortoq in October?
In October, Qaqortoq is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 2.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 79 mm in total. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 15 min08:42 – 18:57
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 60 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 4 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−1offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %22 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %64 %
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
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Qaqortoq
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 Qaqortoq: score 47 against 24. In July, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in July. July has one more rainy day. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 24 | 47better |
| Daytime high | 5° | 11° |
| Night-time low | 0° | 5° |
| Sea | 2.4° | 3.8° |
| Sunshine | 4.3 h | 6.3 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 9better | 10 |
| Rainfall | 79 mmbetter | 93 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Qaqortoq month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
13January−2° · Sea 0° · 1.8 h
In January, Qaqortoq is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−8 °C). The sea averages 0.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.8 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 12 days, totalling 89 mm; on about 10 of them it snows. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in January19February−1° · Sea 0° · 3.5 h
In February, Qaqortoq is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sea averages −0.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.5 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 10 days, totalling 79 mm; on about 9 of them it snows. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in February30March0° · Sea 0° · 5.9 h
In March, Qaqortoq is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sea averages −0.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation falls on about 9 days, totalling 64 mm; on about 7 of them it snows. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in March33April3° · Sea 0° · 7.3 h
In April, Qaqortoq is cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). The sea averages −0.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7.3 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 9 days, totalling 71 mm; on about 7 of them it snows. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in April37May7° · Sea 1° · 8.2 h
In May, Qaqortoq is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 0.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8.2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 65 mm in total. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in May37June9° · Sea 2° · 6.8 h
In June, Qaqortoq is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 1.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 90 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in June47July11° · Sea 4° · 6.3 h
In July, Qaqortoq is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 3.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 93 mm in total. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Qaqortoq – and yet one of the best months here.
Qaqortoq in July43August11° · Sea 5° · 5.8 h
In August, Qaqortoq is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 4.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 118 mm in total. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Qaqortoq – and yet one of the best months here.
Qaqortoq in August24September9° · Sea 4° · 5.0 h
In September, Qaqortoq is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 3.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 133 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in September24October5° · Sea 2° · 4.3 h
In October, Qaqortoq is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 2.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.3 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 79 mm in total. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in October14November2° · Sea 1° · 2.4 h
In November, Qaqortoq is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sea averages 1.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.4 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 11 days, totalling 115 mm; on about 9 of them it snows. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in November16December−1° · Sea 1° · 1.3 h
In December, Qaqortoq is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sea averages 0.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.3 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 11 days, totalling 79 mm; on about 9 of them it snows. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Qaqortoq.
Qaqortoq in DecemberClimate in detail
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Qaqortoq
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°
ColdOctober: nights around 0°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in January (−8°), the warmest in August (6°). 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 | 13 | −2° | −8° | 0.3° | 1.8 h | 12 | 89 |
| FebruaryFeb | 19 | −1° | −7° | −0.2° | 3.5 h | 10 | 79 |
| MarchMar | 30 | 0° | −6° | −0.3° | 5.9 h | 9 | 64 |
| AprilApr | 33 | 3° | −2° | −0.2° | 7.3 h | 9 | 71 |
| MayMay | 37 | 7° | 1° | 0.6° | 8.2 h | 9 | 65 |
| JuneJun | 37 | 9° | 3° | 1.9° | 6.8 h | 10 | 90 |
| JulyJul | 47 | 11° | 5° | 3.8° | 6.3 h | 10 | 93 |
| AugustAug | 43 | 11° | 6° | 4.6° | 5.8 h | 11 | 118 |
| SeptemberSep | 24 | 9° | 4° | 3.8° | 5.0 h | 12 | 133 |
| OctoberOct | 24 | 5° | 0° | 2.4° | 4.3 h | 9 | 79 |
| NovemberNov | 14 | 2° | −3° | 1.4° | 2.4 h | 11 | 115 |
| DecemberDec | 16 | −1° | −6° | 0.9° | 1.3 h | 11 | 79 |
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
60.72° N, 46.04° W · 0 m · America/Nuuk
Sea temperature in Qaqortoq
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 1.4 – 4.0 °C
Swimming season: Always below 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Qaqortoq ranges from −0.3 °C in March to 4.6 °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 December to February 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 3.3 and 6.3 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 0.3° | −0.4° | 1.4° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | −0.2° | −0.9° | 0.6° | cold |
| MarchMar | −0.3° | −0.9° | 0.3° | cold |
| AprilApr | −0.2° | −0.8° | 0.6° | cold |
| MayMay | 0.6° | −0.1° | 1.3° | cold |
| JuneJun | 1.9° | 1.2° | 2.8° | cold |
| JulyJul | 3.8° | 2.4° | 5.1° | cold |
| AugustAug | 4.6° | 3.3° | 6.3° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 3.8° | 2.7° | 5.1° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 2.4° | 1.4° | 4.0° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 1.4° | 0.7° | 2.4° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 0.9° | 0.2° | 1.5° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Qaqortoq
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 4.3 of 10.2 hours of daylight in Qaqortoq, 42 % 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 in Qaqortoq: 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, Qaqortoq has about 9 rainy days with 79 mm of rain in total.
UV index in Qaqortoq
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 5).
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 and clouds in Qaqortoq
How breezy and how cloudy Qaqortoq 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 Qaqortoq typically peaks at 16 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, gentle breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Dec – Mar.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 60 % of the sky over Qaqortoq: variable cloud, with about 4.3 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 in Qaqortoq
When Qaqortoq 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, Qaqortoq has about 4 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 17 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 38 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 Qaqortoq
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Qaqortoq 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.
Qaqortoq has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 44) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15).
- 32
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 2 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 37
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 7.9 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 44
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
FairBest holidays
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 4 °C
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 24
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 2 °C
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 15
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −1 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 1.6 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 4 h
- Distance
- 2,940 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.
Compare & alternatives
Qaqortoq compared
Put Qaqortoq side by side with another destination.
Qaqortoq vs Nanortalik
In October the holiday weather in Qaqortoq and Nanortalik is about equally good (score 24 vs 22). During the day Nanortalik is 1 °C cooler than Qaqortoq. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Qaqortoq | Nanortalik |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 24 | 22 |
| Daytime high | 5° | 4° |
| Sea | 2° | 2° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 9 | 10 |
| Best time | Jul – Aug | Apr – May |
Through the year
Greenland in October: the best places
In October, Qaqortoq ranks 2 of 7 destinations in this country.
- Ilulissat0°3°25
- 2QaqortoqThis page5°2°24
- 3Uummannaq0°1°23
- 4Nanortalik4°2°22
- 5Nuuk3°3°19
- 6Tasiilaq3°2°17
- 7Sisimiut2°3°14
Near Qaqortoq
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Qaqortoq
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Qaqortoq's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Qaqortoq
When is the best time to visit Qaqortoq?
The best time to visit Qaqortoq is from July to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Qaqortoq?
The sea temperature in Qaqortoq ranges from −0.3 °C in March to 4.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Qaqortoq in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 2.4 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Qaqortoq?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 11 °C and nights around 5 °C. January is the coolest month at −2 °C.
When does it rain most in Qaqortoq?
The wettest month is September with 133 mm of precipitation. The driest month is March with 64 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Qaqortoq get?
Qaqortoq gets around 1,790 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 8.2 hours a day; in December there are 1.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Qaqortoq in?
Qaqortoq is on UTC−2 in January and UTC−1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Qaqortoq?
A nonstop flight from London to Qaqortoq takes about 4 h, for a straight-line distance of about 2,940 km.
Which school holidays are best for Qaqortoq?
Qaqortoq has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 44) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 32, May half-term 37, summer holidays 44, October half-term 24, Christmas holidays 15.