Greenland

Greenland Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Greenland in January.

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Ilulissat Narsaq Kulusuk Sisimiut

Planning a journey to Greenland this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Greenland in January

Greenland offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from very cold to cold, and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Nord at -24°C (-11°F) to cold in Ittoqqortoormiit at 3°C (37°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -1°C (30°F) in Ittoqqortoormiit and -30°C (-22°F) in Nord. In many regions in Greenland, January is characterized by its biting cold temperatures. If you're venturing into these areas during this time, it's crucial to be adequately prepared. Ensure you layer up with warm clothing to fight off the chill and stay comfortable.

To explore the conditions in Greenland in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Kangerlussuaq with an average of 14 mm (0.6 in) to heavy snowfall in PrChristianSund with 233 mm (9.2 in).

Explore Greenland by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Greenland in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Greenland.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Greenland

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Greenland?

Temperature range in Greenland (January)

Precipitation variation in Greenland (January)

Ilulissat

In January Ilulissat generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -12°C (10°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -19°C (-2°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-13°C (9°F)
Min temperature
-16°C (3°F)
-19°C (-2°F)
-21°C (-6°F)
Monthly snowfall
25 mm (1 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
15 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
8 days
7 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Ilulissat →

Kangerlussuaq

In January Kangerlussuaq generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -15°C (5°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -23°C (-9°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Min temperature
-20°C (-4°F)
-23°C (-9°F)
-23°C (-9°F)
Monthly snowfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
12 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
6 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Kangerlussuaq →

Narsaq

In January Narsaq generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Min temperature
-11°C (12°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly snowfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
11 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Narsaq →

Kulusuk

In January Kulusuk generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C (18°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
0 hours
1 hour
35 hours
Monthly snowfall
157 mm (6.2 in)
156 mm (6.1 in)
154 mm (6.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Kulusuk →

Tasiilaq

In January Tasiilaq generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C (16°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
0 hours
1 hour
35 hours
Monthly snowfall
139 mm (5.5 in)
141 mm (5.6 in)
139 mm (5.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Tasiilaq →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Greenland.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Greenland in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Ilulissat -12°C (10°F) -19°C (-2°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Narsaq -5°C (23°F) -12°C (10°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Kulusuk -4°C (25°F) -8°C (18°F) 156 mm (6.1 in)
Sisimiut -11°C (12°F) -16°C (3°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Danmarkshavn -18°C (0°F) -24°C (-11°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Ittoqqortoormiit 3°C (37°F) -1°C (30°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)

Greenland weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Greenland in January?

In January, Greenland generally has poor weather conditions. Ilulissat sees daytime temperatures near -12°C (10°F), with nights cooling to roughly -19°C (-2°F).

What is the average temperature in Greenland in January?

Average temperatures in Greenland during January range from a nighttime low near -19°C (-2°F) to a daytime high around -12°C (10°F) in Ilulissat.

Does Greenland get a lot of snow in January?

January is on the drier side in Greenland. Ilulissat averages only about 19 mm (0.7 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Greenland?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Greenland due to the typically poor weather in Ilulissat.

On average, the best time to visit Greenland is in June and July with generally tolerable weather in Ilulissat. The weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Greenland.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Greenland? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Greenland.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

See the northern lights

The northern lights, polar light or Aarora Borealis is a true spectacle of nature! Green, sometimes purple, red and yellow streaks of light colors the dark skies.

Must visit in Greenland →