Nuuk vs Iqaluit: which is sunnier?
Greenland vs Canada · 822 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Nuuk and Iqaluit are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,885 vs 1,936 hours a year. Iqaluit has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Nuuk | Iqaluit | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,885 | 1,936 |
| Sunniest month | January (0/100) | July (37/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 0/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 0/100 | 20/100 |
| Rain / year | 885 mm | 647 mm |
| Warmest sea | 5°C / 41°F | 6°C / 43°F |
| Peak midday UV | 4 (moderate) | 3 (moderate) |
Nuuk vs Iqaluit month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuuk | Iqaluit | Nuuk | Iqaluit | Nuuk | Iqaluit | Nuuk | Iqaluit | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -6° | -23° | 55 | 20 | -1° | -2° |
| February | 0 | 0 | -6° | -21° | 51 | 18 | -1° | -2° |
| March | 0 | 0 | -5° | -15° | 51 | 29 | -2° | -2° |
| April | 0 | 0 | -2° | -6° | 59 | 40 | 0° | -2° |
| May | 0 | 0 | 2° | 1° | 71 | 53 | 1° | -1° |
| June | 0 | 0 | 6° | 8° | 76 | 78 | 3° | 1° |
| July | 0 | 37 | 8° | 14° | 81 | 88 | 5° | 5° |
| August | 0 | 24 | 8° | 12° | 95 | 91 | 5° | 6° |
| September | 0 | 0 | 5° | 5° | 108 | 88 | 3° | 4° |
| October | 0 | 0 | 1° | -2° | 78 | 63 | 2° | 1° |
| November | 0 | 0 | -2° | -10° | 84 | 48 | 0° | -1° |
| December | 0 | 0 | -4° | -17° | 76 | 31 | -1° | -2° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul Iqaluit · Aug Iqaluit · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Nuuk averages 0/100, Iqaluit 0/100. Nuuk is the warmer, around -4°C daytime highs vs -18°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Nuuk averages 0/100, Iqaluit 0/100. Nuuk is the warmer, around -2°C daytime highs vs -7°C.
- June–August: Iqaluit (average score 20/100 vs 0). Iqaluit is the warmer, around 11°C daytime highs vs 7°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Nuuk averages 0/100, Iqaluit 0/100. Daytime highs are similar (3°C vs 2°C).
Sea temperature
Iqaluit's sea gets warmer: 6°C / 43°F at its peak vs 5°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Nuuk never, Iqaluit never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Nuuk weather by month · Iqaluit weather by month · Best time to visit Canada.
More comparisons: Nuuk vs Goose Bay · Nuuk vs Ilulissat · Iqaluit vs Goose Bay · Iqaluit vs Ilulissat · all head-to-heads