Greenland Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Qaqortoq, and Aasiaat
This month in numbers
Greenland experienced its 7th warmest April–June period on record, with temperatures averaging -13.05°C, a significant +1.9°C anomaly compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. June 2026 itself was also notably warmer, ranking as the 25th warmest June in 86 years, with an average temperature of -6.82°C, which is +1.3°C above the baseline. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest on record for land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1°C, while the April–June period ranked as the 2nd warmest globally for land temperatures, also with a +1°C anomaly.
What changed
The past three months in Greenland have continued a trend of significant warming, with the April–June period being the 7th warmest on record. This warming trend is particularly pronounced in the Arctic, which is experiencing , warming three to four times faster than the global average. A recent study highlighted that extreme melting events across Greenland have become more frequent, extensive, and intense since 1990, with the area affected expanding by over one million square miles every decade and meltwater production increasing six-fold. This regional warming contrasts with the global land temperature, which saw its 2nd warmest April–June on record.
What’s driving change?
The primary driver of Greenland's accelerated warming is , where the retreat of sea ice and snow exposes darker surfaces that absorb more sunlight, further intensifying warming through . This June, Greenland also experienced two unusual wildfires near Sisimiut and Kujalleq, which scientists note are rare for this early in the summer and suggest unusually warm and dry conditions. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was in a negative phase in May 2026 (-0.74), following a positive phase in April (1.39) and a strongly positive phase in March (2.69). Additionally, a strengthening El Niño is developing in the tropical Pacific, which is expected to influence global temperature and rainfall patterns and increase the risk of extreme weather in the coming months.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts suggest a nearly universal dominance of above-normal temperatures across most parts of the globe for the June-July-August season, with El Niño conditions expected to continue until at least November.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Greenland
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Greenland – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – Greenland
Our World in Data / NOAA - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen EF · PolarHow spring and autumn have shifted in Greenland. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (-19.3°C, from 1940–1969); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 22.7°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Apr (+4.0°C).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Headline: anomaly vs the 1961–1990 mean. Small figure: the actual value. Rank: position in the full record (1st = highest ever). Record: highest (or lowest) value on record with its year.
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Greenland
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Greenland changing?
Greenland is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Greenland come from?
Climate data for Greenland comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Greenland climate data cover?
The Greenland climate profile covers Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Qaqortoq and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Greenland
How often is the Greenland climate update refreshed?
The Greenland climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.