AI-generatedUpernavik at a glance
- Best time
- Jul
- Warmest month
- Jul · 10°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 5.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,910 h
- Rain a year
- 340 mm
- Climate
- Subarctic
- Time zone
- UTC−2 / UTC−1
- Elevation
- 0 m
Climate in Upernavik
Upernavik has a subarctic climate: summers are short and cool, winters long and cold. July is the warmest month with average highs of 10 °C, while February is the coolest at −16 °C. With around 1,910 hours of sunshine a year, Upernavik is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 11.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Upernavik
The best time to visit Upernavik is in July. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 5.1 °C. The wettest month is August with 56 mm of precipitation.
Upernavik through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Upernavik in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- −15–0 °C by day
- Sea −1 °C
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days in all
Upernavik in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 7–10 °C by day
- Sea 4 °C
- 10.0 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days in all
Upernavik in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- −5–4 °C by day
- Sea 2 °C
- 2.7 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Upernavik in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- −15–−8 °C by day
- Sea −1 °C
- 0.4 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
Mar – May, Sep – Jan
Snow on 2 or more days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Upernavik 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 −4°
- Midday, 13:00: about −2°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about −1°
- Evening, 20:00: about −2°
- Night, 23:00: about −3°
10:0918:52
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 09:23–12:12 · evening 16:49–19:37
- Blue hour
- Morning 08:55–09:23 · evening 19:37–20:05
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 Upernavik compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 2° at the start of the month to −3° at the end. The sea cools from 3° to 1°. The days get 6.9 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 2° | −3° |
| Night-time low | −2° | −6° |
| Sea | 3° | 1° |
| Daylight | 11.1 h | 4.2 h |
What is the weather like in Upernavik in October?
In October, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−4 °C). The sea averages 1.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.2 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 11 days, totalling 47 mm; on about 10 of them it snows. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Upernavik.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 8 h 43 min10:09 – 18:52
- UV index
- 0 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 19 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 75 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 10 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−1offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %54 %
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 Upernavik
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 Upernavik: score 58 against 16. In July, days are 11 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in July. July has 4 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 9 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 16 | 58better |
| Daytime high | −1° | 10° |
| Night-time low | −4° | 5° |
| Sea | 1.8° | 4.4° |
| Sunshine | 2.2 h | 10.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 11 | 7better |
| Rainfall | 47 mm | 37 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Upernavik month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
30January−13° · Sea −1° · 0.0 h
In January, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −13 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−18 °C). The sea averages −0.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun stays below the horizon all day (polar night). Precipitation falls on about 4 days, totalling 15 mm; on about 4 of them it snows. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in January30February−15° · Sea −1° · 1.3 h
In February, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −16 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−21 °C). The sea averages −1.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.3 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 2 days, totalling 8 mm; on about 2 of them it snows. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in February38March−15° · Sea −1° · 5.3 h
In March, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −15 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−21 °C). The sea averages −1.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.3 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 Upernavik.
Upernavik in March44April−8° · Sea −1° · 7.9 h
In April, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −8 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−14 °C). The sea averages −1.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7.9 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 5 days, totalling 20 mm; on about 5 of them it snows. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in April47May0° · Sea 0° · 9.8 h
In May, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sea averages −0.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 9.8 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Precipitation falls on about 6 days, totalling 23 mm; on about 5 of them it snows. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in May47June7° · Sea 1° · 11.2 h
In June, Upernavik is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 1.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 11.2 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 25 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in June58July10° · Sea 4° · 10.9 h
In July, Upernavik is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 4.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10.9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 37 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Upernavik – and yet one of the best months here.
Upernavik in July43August9° · Sea 5° · 7.9 h
In August, Upernavik is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 5.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7.9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 56 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in August31September4° · Sea 4° · 5.9 h
In September, Upernavik is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 3.9 °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 40 mm. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in September16October−1° · Sea 2° · 2.2 h
In October, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−4 °C). The sea averages 1.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.2 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 11 days, totalling 47 mm; on about 10 of them it snows. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in October20November−5° · Sea 0° · 0.0 h
In November, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−8 °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 9 days, totalling 36 mm; on about 9 of them it snows. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik in November25December−8° · Sea 0° · 0.0 h
In December, Upernavik is bitterly cold: daytime highs average −8 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−12 °C). The sea averages −0.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun stays below the horizon all day (polar night). Precipitation falls on about 6 days, totalling 23 mm; on about 7 of them it snows. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Upernavik.
Upernavik 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 Upernavik
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 −4°. Heating and warm bedding are a must.
The coolest nights are in March (−21°), 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 | −13° | −18° | −0.9° | 0.0 h | 4 | 15 |
| FebruaryFeb | 30 | −16° | −21° | −1.4° | 1.3 h | 2 | 8 |
| MarchMar | 38 | −15° | −21° | −1.5° | 5.3 h | 3 | 12 |
| AprilApr | 44 | −8° | −14° | −1.2° | 7.9 h | 5 | 20 |
| MayMay | 47 | 0° | −5° | −0.4° | 9.8 h | 6 | 23 |
| JuneJun | 47 | 7° | 2° | 1.4° | 11.2 h | 6 | 25 |
| JulyJul | 58 | 10° | 5° | 4.4° | 10.9 h | 7 | 37 |
| AugustAug | 43 | 9° | 5° | 5.1° | 7.9 h | 9 | 56 |
| SeptemberSep | 31 | 4° | 1° | 3.9° | 5.9 h | 8 | 40 |
| OctoberOct | 16 | −1° | −4° | 1.8° | 2.2 h | 11 | 47 |
| NovemberNov | 20 | −5° | −8° | 0.2° | 0.0 h | 9 | 36 |
| DecemberDec | 25 | −8° | −12° | −0.3° | 0.0 h | 6 | 23 |
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
72.78° N, 56.15° W · 0 m · America/Nuuk
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Upernavik
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 1.1 – 2.5 °C
Swimming season: Always below 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Upernavik ranges from −1.5 °C in March to 5.1 °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 3.9 and 6.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | −0.9° | −1.6° | 0.1° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | −1.4° | −1.8° | −0.6° | cold |
| MarchMar | −1.5° | −1.8° | −0.8° | cold |
| AprilApr | −1.2° | −1.7° | −0.4° | cold |
| MayMay | −0.4° | −1.5° | 0.5° | cold |
| JuneJun | 1.4° | 0.2° | 2.5° | cold |
| JulyJul | 4.4° | 2.9° | 6.1° | cold |
| AugustAug | 5.1° | 3.9° | 6.7° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 3.9° | 3.0° | 4.8° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 1.8° | 1.1° | 2.5° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 0.2° | −0.7° | 0.9° | cold |
| DecemberDec | −0.3° | −1.2° | 0.4° | cold |
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Upernavik
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 2.2 of 8.7 hours of daylight in Upernavik, 25 % 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 Upernavik: 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, Upernavik has about 11 rainy days with 47 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Upernavik
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 3).
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 Upernavik
How breezy and how cloudy Upernavik 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 Upernavik typically peaks at 19 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: Nov – Dec.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 75 % of the sky over Upernavik: mostly cloudy, with about 2.2 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 Upernavik
When Upernavik 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, Upernavik has about 10 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 33 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 79 out of 100: likely.
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 Upernavik
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Upernavik 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.
Upernavik has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 48) and its weakest during October half-term (score 16).
- 42
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- −10 °C by day
- Sea −1 °C
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 47
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 2 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 10.1 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 48
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
FairBest holidays
- 10 °C by day
- Sea 5 °C
- 9.0 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
- 16
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- −1 °C by day
- Sea 2 °C
- 2.2 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 28
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −11 °C by day
- Sea −1 °C
- 0.0 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 45 min
- Distance
- 3,520 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
Upernavik compared
Put Upernavik side by side with another destination.
Upernavik vs Uummannaq
In October Uummannaq has the better holiday weather (score 23 vs 16). During the day Uummannaq is 1 °C warmer than Upernavik. The sea in Uummannaq is 1 °C cooler.
| in October | Upernavik | Uummannaq |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 16 | 23 |
| Daytime high | −1° | 0° |
| Sea | 2° | 1° |
| Sunshine | 2 h | 2 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 7 |
| Best time | Jul | Jul |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Greenland in October: the best places
In October, Upernavik ranks 9 of 10 destinations in this country.
- Ilulissat0°3°25
- 2Qaqortoq5°2°24
- 3Uummannaq0°1°23
- 4Narsaq5°3°23
- 5Aasiaat1°3°22
- 6Nanortalik4°2°22
- 7Nuuk3°3°19
- 8Tasiilaq3°2°17
- 9UpernavikThis page−1°2°16
Places nearby
Near Upernavik
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Upernavik
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Upernavik's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Upernavik
When is the best time to visit Upernavik?
The best time to visit Upernavik 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 Upernavik?
The sea temperature in Upernavik ranges from −1.5 °C in March to 5.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Upernavik in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 1.8 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Upernavik?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 10 °C and nights around 5 °C. February is the coolest month at −16 °C.
When does it rain most in Upernavik?
The wettest month is August with 56 mm of precipitation. The driest month is February with 8 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Upernavik get?
Upernavik gets around 1,910 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 11.2 hours a day; in January there is practically no direct sun.
What time zone is Upernavik in?
Upernavik is on UTC−2 in January and UTC−1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Upernavik?
A nonstop flight from London to Upernavik takes about 4 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 3,520 km.
Which school holidays are best for Upernavik?
Upernavik has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 48) and its weakest during October half-term (score 16). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 42, May half-term 47, summer holidays 48, October half-term 16, Christmas holidays 28.