Svalbard
Longyearbyen in January: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Longyearbyen in January is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around -11 °C, and the sea is about 1 °C. With about 15 rainy days it is very wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
13/100 · #11
Warmth
#10
Dryness
#8
Sun
#9
Sea warmth
#12
Published best categories: none
Longyearbyen · JanuaryPhoto: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0Climate facts
- Average high
- -11 °C
- Average low
- -16 °C
- Sea
- 1 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 15 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 0 h/day
- Humidity
- 97 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | -9 | -14 | 15 | 66 | 0.0 | 96 | 4.3 | 1 | 13 |
| January (selected) | -11 | -16 | 15 | 63 | 0.0 | 97 | 4.5 | 1 | 13 |
| February | -11 | -16 | 14 | 53 | 0.0 | 97 | 4.2 | 1 | 16 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: January (13/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | ±0 | +1.5 °C | +1.6 °C | +0.2 | +3.5 mm | ±0 h | -1.1 % | -0.2 m/s | +0.1 °C |
| February | +3 | ±0 °C | -0.2 °C | -1.5 | -9.9 mm | ±0 h | +0.1 % | -0.2 m/s | +0.1 °C |
All twelve months in context
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Where to stay in Longyearbyen
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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Longyearbyen in January?
The average daily high is around -11 °C, with an average daily low of about -16 °C.
Can you swim in Longyearbyen in January?
The sea is about 1 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Longyearbyen in January?
The curated estimate is about 15 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 63 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Longyearbyen?
No month in Longyearbyen reaches the threshold for a clear recommendation in the climate score; the month comparison above shows the differences.