Svalbard Weather in May

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

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Longyearbyen

Thinking about venturing to Svalbard, Norway this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Svalbard in May

Svalbard, Norway is a region in Norway. May in Svalbard generally has very cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation.

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around -1°C (30°F) and nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) in Longyearbyen. May is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

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

Precipitation

May is a moderate rainy month with an average snowfall of around 32 mm (1.3 in) in Longyearbyen.

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, Longyearbyen enjoys approximately 256 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Svalbard by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Svalbard in May

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 May for the most popular destinonation in Svalbard, Norway?

Longyearbyen

In May Longyearbyen generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -1°C (30°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-1°C (30°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-13°C (9°F)
-5°C (23°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
230 hours
256 hours
168 hours
Monthly snowfall
34 mm (1.3 in)
32 mm (1.3 in)
28 mm (1.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
3 days
4 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 May: frequently asked questions

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

In May, Svalbard, Norway generally has poor weather conditions. Longyearbyen sees daytime temperatures near -1°C (30°F), with nights cooling to roughly -5°C (23°F).

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

Daytime temperatures in Longyearbyen peak at roughly -1°C (30°F) in May, dropping to about -5°C (23°F) overnight.

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in Svalbard, Norway during May, with Longyearbyen averaging close to 32 mm (1.3 in).

Is May a Good Time to Visit Svalbard, Norway?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Longyearbyen, May may not be the ideal time to visit Svalbard, Norway.

Generally speaking, provide 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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