Svalbard in July

July is the warmest of all the months in Svalbard sometimes even reaching positive double figures. 

During one of our recent charter expeditions the mercury even reached 17°C in the sun! Temperatures usually average between 3°C - 7°C though, so you can assume your trip will remain in positive degrees throughout. 

Rainfall levels rise to 24mm in June and this is likely to come in drizzly rain and sleet rather than great downpours. Each year, ice conditions are hugely dependent on a number of factors: temperatures in winter, wind direction and, of course, to a certain extent, climate change. It is impossible to say how far north the pack ice will be from year to year and whether some of the ordinarily icy fjords will be covered in ice floes or not. If you travel to Svalbard aboard one of our ship charters, the experienced Captain and crew will analyse the weather and ice conditions and make routing decisions based on recent sightings and the locations they feel are most likely to offer successful wildlife opportunities. 

Despite having 24 hours of daylight, July is likely to receive summer fog that Svalbard is renowned for. This is due to the meeting of wind currents and impacts visibility greatly so may make navigation more difficult. You will be able to use Zodiacs to get to shore and explore certain sites up close though, so will still get good wildlife sightings.

The summer months are also known to be the best months for whale watching in Svalbard. There can be up to 11 species of whale in the region at any one time depending on when they arrive from the south. Look out for minke whales, bowheads and white beluga whales.