Svalbard Weather in January

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

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Longyearbyen

Planning a journey to Svalbard, Norway 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 Svalbard in January

Svalbard, Norway is a region in Norway. January in Svalbard generally has very cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around -10°C (14°F) and nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) in Longyearbyen. January is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

For specific regional insights in Svalbard, Norway, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

January is a moderate rainy month with an average snowfall of around 55 mm (2.2 in) in Longyearbyen.

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during January. Longyearbyen experiences about 0 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore Svalbard by month

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

January-10°C (14°F) February-10°C (14°F) March-11°C (12°F) April-8°C (18°F) May-1°C (30°F) June4°C (39°F) This monthJuly8°C (46°F) August7°C (45°F) September3°C (37°F) October-3°C (27°F) November-6°C (21°F) December-8°C (18°F)
Best Time to Visit Svalbard →

Best Places to Visit in Svalbard in January

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

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 Svalbard

What is the weather like in January for the most popular destinonation in Svalbard, Norway?

Longyearbyen

In January Longyearbyen generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -10°C (14°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Min temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-16°C (3°F)
Monthly sun hours
0 hours
0 hours
0 hours
Monthly snowfall
57 mm (2.2 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
47 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
7 days
6 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Longyearbyen →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Svalbard, in Norway.

Svalbard weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Svalbard, Norway in January?

January in Svalbard, Norway brings poor weather. In Longyearbyen, daytime temperatures are typically around -10°C (14°F) and nighttime lows hover near -16°C (3°F).

What is the average temperature in Svalbard, Norway in January?

Daytime temperatures in Longyearbyen peak at roughly -10°C (14°F) in January, dropping to about -16°C (3°F) overnight.

Does Svalbard, Norway get a lot of snow in January?

Not particularly. Longyearbyen averages just 55 mm (2.2 in) of snow in January, making it a mostly dry month for Svalbard, Norway.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Svalbard, Norway?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Svalbard, Norway due to the typically poor weather in Longyearbyen.

On average, the best time to visit Svalbard, Norway is in with generally poor weather in Longyearbyen.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Svalbard.

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

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.

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