Climate
The climate in Greenland is arctic ... and that
means cold! Especially in Thule located so far north. Up
there the average temperature in the winter time is on the
colder side of -20 degrees Celcius (-5 degrees Fahrenheit).
The sun doesn't rule up there. Thule is located far north
of the polar circle and therefore part of the year goes by
in almost total darkness. From around mid November till mid
February the sun isn't anywhere to be seen. On the other
hand the sun never sets in the 4 months around summer time.
In July the average temperature reaches 5 degrees Celcius
(40 degrees Fahrenheit).
The weather isn't just cold. The wind also has a lot to
say. At Thule Air Base they operate with different storm
levels: Storm Normal, Storm Alert, Storm
1, Storm 2 og Storm 3. When a Storm 2 is called every person
with non-vital work functions must return to their barracks
and wait for an announcement of the storm level going down
again. Being outside during a Storm 3 is considered life
threatening.
Precipitation is scarce but that doesn't mean that
there's no snow. It comes blowing of of the ice cap 10 miles
away from the base area.
Take a look at the weather situation on base right now...
|
|
Avg. temperatures
Pituffik, 1961-1990 |
| January |
-23,3°
C |
| February |
-24,6°
C |
| March |
-24,1°
C |
| April |
-17,0°
C |
| May |
-5,6°
C |
| June |
1,5°
C |
| July |
4,6°
C |
| August |
3,8°
C |
| September |
-1,7°
C |
| October |
-9,8°
C |
| November |
-16,6°
C |
| December |
-21,6°
C |
| All
year |
-11,2°
C |
|
Source:
DMI |
|
|
Precipitation
Pituffik, 1961-1986 |
| January |
6
mm |
| February |
6
mm |
| March |
4
mm |
| April |
6
mm |
| May |
7
mm |
| June |
7
mm |
| July |
16
mm |
| August |
24
mm |
| September |
18
mm |
| October |
12
mm |
| November |
10
mm |
| December |
8
mm |
| All
year |
124
mm |
|
Source:
DMI |
|
|
|
