January weather forecast
Svalbard and Jan Mayen

January is the heart of the Polar Night season in both Svalbard and Jan Mayen, characterized by extended darkness, severe cold, and a quieting of wildlife activity. In Svalbard, it is the coldest month of the year, with average temperatures descending to -20°C (-4°F). The capital city, Longyearbyen, experiences similar conditions. There is virtually no daylight, and the territory is blanketed in snow, transforming the landscape into a winter wonderland.

In Jan Mayen, the weather during January is also harsh, though somewhat milder than in Svalbard. Temperatures average around -2°C (28.4°F), attributable to its location closer to the Gulf Stream. As with Svalbard, Jan Mayen experiences the Polar Night, with the sun not rising above the horizon. The only settlement on the island, the Norwegian military base, also shares these climatic conditions.

January is not known for heavy precipitation in either Svalbard or Jan Mayen. However, any moisture that does fall is almost certainly in the form of snow. Snowfall is more common in coastal areas and less frequent in the interior.

Compared to the following month of February, January is colder, with shorter daylight hours. February sees a slow return of the sun and a slight increase in average temperatures. The shift from January's deep freeze to the marginally milder conditions of February marks the early transition towards the spring season. However, visitors during this period must still be prepared for severe winter conditions.

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• Longyearbyen - January »
  January, May through July, November and December, with an average of 0h and 0min of daylight, are months with the shortest days in Longyearbyen. January through March, October through December, with an average maximum UV index of 0, are months with the lowest UV index in Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
• Barentsburg - January »
  The months with the most snowfall days in Barentsburg are January and December, with an average of 24 snowfall days. January through April, October through December, with an average relative humidity of 77%, are the least humid months in Barentsburg, Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
• Olonkin City - January »
  January through April, with an average sea temperature of 1°C (33.8°F), are months with the coldest seawater in Olonkin City. The months with the coldest seawater in Olonkin City are January through April, with an average sea temperature of 1°C (33.8°F).