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Weather & Climate in Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Longyearbyen has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 20°F (-7°C). Winters average 7°F in January while summers reach 40°F in July. The area gets 307 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 16.1 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.4 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 3 feet.
Temperature
7°F Jan (-14°C)
40°F Jul (5°C)
| Annual Average | 20.2°F |
| 63% below US avg | |
| January Average | 7°F (-14°C) |
| July Average | 40°F (5°C) |
| Sunny Days | 307 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Area | 93.8 sq mi (242.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 25/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 78.2233°N, 15.6469°W |
| Timezone | Arctic/Longyearbyen |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
20 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.1.
| Feb 21, 2008 | 145 km SSE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M6.1 | 145 km | 12 km |
| Mar 29, 2016 | 121 km ESE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M5.1 | 121 km | 10 km |
| May 31, 2017 | 135 km S of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.8 | 135 km | 3 km |
| Nov 23, 2009 | 145 km S of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.7 | 145 km | 10 km |
| Feb 21, 2009 | 145 km SSE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.6 | 145 km | 10 km |
| May 22, 2025 | 50 km WSW of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.6 | 51 km | 10 km |
| Jul 4, 2015 | 135 km S of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.5 | 135 km | 10 km |
| May 5, 2011 | 142 km SSE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.5 | 142 km | 23 km |
| May 28, 2002 | 131 km W of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.4 | 131 km | 10 km |
| Oct 2, 2011 | 149 km SE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.3 | 149 km | 10 km |
| Jul 13, 2004 | 140 km W of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.3 | 139 km | 10 km |
| Jun 9, 2005 | 36 km SW of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.3 | 37 km | 10 km |
| Feb 29, 2008 | 150 km SE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.2 | 149 km | 10 km |
| Feb 21, 2008 | 128 km SE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.2 | 128 km | 10 km |
| Jun 7, 2003 | 37 km SW of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.2 | 37 km | 10 km |
| Jun 9, 2005 | 37 km WSW of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.2 | 38 km | 10 km |
| Nov 21, 2013 | 127 km SSE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.1 | 127 km | 5 km |
| Jul 21, 2004 | 145 km W of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M4.0 | 145 km | 10 km |
| May 6, 2008 | 141 km SSE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M3.9 | 141 km | 10 km |
| Feb 10, 1991 | 144 km SE of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen | M3.8 | 144 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2011 | SVALBARD | Meteorological | 0.3 m | — | 27 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°F (-14°C) | 1.4 in | |
| February | 5°F (-15°C) | 1.3 in | Coldest |
| March | 7°F (-14°C) | 1.2 in | |
| April | 10°F (-12°C) | 0.9 in | |
| May | 24°F (-5°C) | 0.8 in | Driest |
| June | 34°F (1°C) | 1.2 in | |
| July | 40°F (5°C) | 1.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 39°F (4°C) | 1.9 in | Wettest |
| September | 31°F (-0°C) | 1.5 in | |
| October | 21°F (-6°C) | 1.4 in | |
| November | 14°F (-10°C) | 1.4 in | |
| December | 9°F (-13°C) | 1.4 in |
Longyearbyen has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 5°F in February to 40°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.1 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.9") and May the driest (0.8").