Climate Insights for Qaqortoq

The climate in Qaqortoq is cold. The average annual temperature is 0°C and approximately 1006mm of precipitation falls per year. Qaqortoq receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Qaqortoq is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, June. The coldest months are February, January, December, when temperatures can drop to -11°C. Qaqortoq experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

Temperatures in Qaqortoq vary considerably across the year, with a 21°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 10°C with a mean of 8°C. The coldest month is February, when overnight lows fall to -11°C and the daily average is -8°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 5°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Qaqortoq is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1006mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 84mm per month. The wettest month is September, averaging 135mm of rainfall. November and August also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 49mm. That's 86mm less than September, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Qaqortoq receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 296cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is January, with approximately 53cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

Qaqortoq is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 16km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is February, averaging 21km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in October, with average winds dropping to 13km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 8km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 19km/h in winter, 15km/h in spring, 15km/h in summer, 15km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Qaqortoq, which began on March 20, 2026. Qaqortoq is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 10°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near -11°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Qaqortoq based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.