Svalbard
Longyearbyen in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Longyearbyen in May is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around -3 °C, and the sea is about 1 °C. With about 12 rainy days it is wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
28/100 · #2
Warmth
#5
Dryness
#3
Sun
#2
Sea warmth
#9
Published best categories: none
Longyearbyen · MayPhoto: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0Climate facts
- Average high
- -3 °C
- Average low
- -6 °C
- Sea
- 1 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 12 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 7 h/day
- Humidity
- 88 %
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | -8 | -14 | 11 | 43 | 3.9 | 93 | 3.7 | 1 | 26 |
| May (selected) | -3 | -6 | 12 | 46 | 6.5 | 88 | 3.3 | 1 | 28 |
| June | 1 | -1 | 12 | 40 | 7.6 | 90 | 2.7 | 2 | 29 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (28/100)
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | -2 | -5.2 °C | -7.3 °C | -1.1 | -3.7 mm | -2.6 h | +4.1 % | +0.4 m/s | ±0 °C |
| June | +1 | +4.1 °C | +6 °C | -0.8 | -6.2 mm | +1.1 h | +1.5 % | -0.6 m/s | +1.7 °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 May?
The average daily high is around -3 °C, with an average daily low of about -6 °C.
Can you swim in Longyearbyen in May?
The sea is about 1 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Longyearbyen in May?
The curated estimate is about 12 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 46 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.