Greenland

Greenland Weather in May

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

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Ilulissat Narsaq Kulusuk Sisimiut

Are you planning a trip a to Greenland in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Greenland in May

In May, Greenland experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from low to high.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Nord at -7°C (19°F) to cold in Kangerlussuaq at 7°C (45°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -2°C (28°F) in Kangerlussuaq and -12°C (10°F) in Nord. In numerous regions in Greenland, May is marked by its cold weather conditions. If you're heading to these areas during this month, it's vital to be well-prepared. Dressing in layered and insulated outfits will ensure you stay warm.

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

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Danmarkshavn with an average of 21 mm (0.8 in) to high snowfall in PrChristianSund with 151 mm (5.9 in).

Explore Greenland by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Greenland — and find the best time to visit. (based on Ilulissat)

January-12°C (10°F) February-13°C (9°F) March-11°C (12°F) April-4°C (25°F) May5°C (41°F) June12°C (54°F) This monthJuly14°C (57°F) August12°C (54°F) September7°C (45°F) October-1°C (30°F) November-6°C (21°F) December-9°C (16°F)
Best Time to Visit Greenland →

Best Places to Visit in Greenland in May

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 May for some of the most popular destinations in Greenland?

Temperature range in Greenland (May)

Precipitation variation in Greenland (May)

Ilulissat

In May Ilulissat generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
-4°C (25°F)
5°C (41°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-3°C (27°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
21 mm (0.8 in)
26 mm (1 in)
28 mm (1.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
7 days
7 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
tolerable
Climate in Ilulissat →

Kangerlussuaq

In May Kangerlussuaq generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
-2°C (28°F)
7°C (45°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-2°C (28°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
17 mm (0.7 in)
25 mm (1 in)
38 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
8 days
9 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
tolerable
Climate in Kangerlussuaq →

Narsaq

In May Narsaq generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
7°C (45°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
-4°C (25°F)
0°C (32°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
11 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Narsaq →

Kulusuk

In May Kulusuk generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
3°C (37°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-2°C (28°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
163 hours
189 hours
233 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
117 mm (4.6 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Kulusuk →

Tasiilaq

In May Tasiilaq generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
3°C (37°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-2°C (28°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
163 hours
189 hours
233 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
109 mm (4.3 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
12 days
11 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 May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Ilulissat 5°C (41°F) -3°C (27°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Narsaq 7°C (45°F) 0°C (32°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Kulusuk 3°C (37°F) -2°C (28°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Sisimiut 2°C (36°F) -3°C (27°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Danmarkshavn -4°C (25°F) -9°C (16°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Ittoqqortoormiit 7°C (45°F) 4°C (39°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)

Greenland weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Greenland in May?

Greenland typically experiences unpleasant weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Ilulissat average around 5°C (41°F), and temperatures drop to about -3°C (27°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Greenland in May?

In Ilulissat, the average daytime high in May is 5°C (41°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -3°C (27°F).

Does Greenland get a lot of snow/rain in May?

Not particularly. Ilulissat averages just 26 mm (1 in) of snow/rain in May, making it a mostly dry month for Greenland.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Greenland?

In our view, May might not be the best time to travel to Greenland with often poor weather in Ilulissat.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June and July offering mostly tolerable weather in Ilulissat. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend 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 →