Svalbard · WinterMonth summary
Svalbard weather in January
❌ Poor
🌡️ Temperature min / max
-14°C – -8°C
🌧 Rainy days
32% of days
☀️ Sunshine
0.0h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
1.8/10
📅 📅 Best month
May (5.5/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Svalbard in January?
❌ Poor
✅ Yes if: you enjoy winter atmosphere and the lowest prices of the year.
❌ No if: you're looking for sunshine or outdoor activities.
Our take: January brings a challenging climate (1.8/10). May offers milder conditions if your dates are flexible.
By trip type
Svalbard in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ❌ Not recommended
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : 🌿 Shoulder
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Not recommended unless on tight budget — difficult weather (-9°C, 32% rain) Winter in Svalbard is cool (-8°C during the day). Days are short (0.0h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 32% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ❄️ January | -14°C | -8°C | 32% | 1.4 | 0.0h | 1.8/10 |
| ❄️ February | -14°C | -8°C | 40% | 1.8 | 0.0h | 1.3/10 |
| ❄️ March | -17°C | -12°C | 33% | 1.3 | 5.7h | 4.0/10 |
| ❄️ April | -12°C | -7°C | 29% | 1.1 | 12.2h | 5.2/10 |
| 🌨️ May | -3°C | 0°C | 31% | 1.1 | 13.4h | 5.5/10 |
| 🌫️ June | 2°C | 5°C | 29% | 1.0 | 11.5h | 5.0/10 |
| 🌫️ July | 6°C | 10°C | 34% | 1.5 | 8.3h | 4.9/10 |
| 🌦️ August | 5°C | 8°C | 37% | 1.8 | 5.9h | 4.1/10 |
| 🌨️ September | 1°C | 4°C | 46% | 2.2 | 1.1h | 1.3/10 |
| ❄️ October | -5°C | -1°C | 35% | 1.5 | 0.0h | 1.6/10 |
| ❄️ November | -10°C | -4°C | 42% | 1.8 | 0.0h | 1.2/10 |
| ❄️ December | -13°C | -6°C | 39% | 1.6 | 0.0h | 1.4/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In January, Svalbard averages -8°C, 32% rainy days and 0.0h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 1.8/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs May (best month)
The best month is May (score 5.5/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +8°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -1%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +13.4h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Svalbard in January
Is January a good time to visit Svalbard?
January is not recommended for Svalbard (score 1.8/10). With 32% rainy days and 0.0h of sunshine, consider May (5.5/10) instead.
What's the weather like in Svalbard in January?
It's cool with -8°C daytime and -14°C at night. 0.0h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
Accommodation
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