Murmansk is a city of 270,000 inhabitants located in northwestern Russia, on the Kola Peninsula, within a fjord, about 35 km (22 mi) away from the coast of the Barents Sea. It is the most populous city in the world north of the Arctic Circle.
About 165 km (100 mi) to the west is a point where the borders of Russia, Finland and Norway meet.
is not abundant, amounting to about 510 millimeters (20 inches) per year. As often happens in cold climates, the rainiest season is summer.
Precipitation generally occurs in the form of snow from October to May, and predominantly from late October to mid-April. However, it can occasionally snow even in June and September.
, from November to March, is very cold: the average temperature in January and February is around -9.5 °C (15 °F). The sky is often cloudy, and light snow often falls. The long nights, which become polar nights from December to early January, are illuminated by the Northern Lights when the sky is clear.
The temperature is not that low, due to the influence of the last branch of the
, the temperature can drop to 30 °C (-22 °F) or below. The coldest record is -39.4 °C (-38.9 °F), set in January 1985 and January 1999.
, from June to August, is mild or cool, with frequent rain or drizzle and some cold days.
The average in July is around 13.5 °C (56 °F). As mentioned, it can sometimes snow even in June.
, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 30 °C (86 °F). The hottest record is 32.9 °C (91.2 °F), set in July 1972. In July 2018, which was exceptionally warm in northern Europe, the temperature reached 32.2 °C (90 °F), the average maximum was 25 °C (77 °F), and there were seven days with a high of 30 °C (86 °F) and above.
Since we are at the 69th parallel, therefore, as mentioned, north of the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise (
) from December 2 to January 10, and does not set (midnight sun) from May 22 to July 22. The
, in which it does not get completely dark even at midnight, occur from April 14 to August 30.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-9.5 °C, with a minimum of
-12.5 °C and a maximum of
-6.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-25.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-39.4 °C in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2 °C. However, it reached
5.6 °C in January 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
31.4 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very short.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 4% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-9.5 °C, with a minimum of
-12.4 °C and a maximum of
-6.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-24.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-32.8 °C in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2 °C. However, it reached
6.6 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
22.4 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are short.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 16% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-5.1 °C, with a minimum of
-8.2 °C and a maximum of
-1.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-19 °C. However, it dropped to
-26 °C in March 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4.5 °C. However, it reached
8.6 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
27.4 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.2 °C, with a minimum of
-3.4 °C and a maximum of
2.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-18.7 °C in April 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10.5 °C. However, it reached
17.6 °C in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
26.5 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.9 °C, with a minimum of
1.5 °C and a maximum of
8.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.1 °C in May 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
29.4 °C in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
36.6 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.8 °C, with a minimum of
5.9 °C and a maximum of
13.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.3 °C in June 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
29.7 °C in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
54.5 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.7 °C, with a minimum of
9.6 °C and a maximum of
17.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.2 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
66.2 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.9 °C, with a minimum of
8.4 °C and a maximum of
15.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
1.3 °C in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
30.2 °C in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
64.3 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.8 °C, with a minimum of
5 °C and a maximum of
10.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.5 °C in September 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
21.4 °C in September 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
53.4 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.7 °C, with a minimum of
-0.2 °C and a maximum of
3.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8 °C. However, it dropped to
-14.8 °C in October 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9.5 °C. However, it reached
15 °C in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
55.8 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 17% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.1 °C, with a minimum of
-6.3 °C and a maximum of
-1.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-30.5 °C in November 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
4 °C. However, it reached
9.3 °C in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
35.4 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 6% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-7 °C, with a minimum of
-9.7 °C and a maximum of
-4.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-35 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
3.5 °C. However, it reached
7.2 °C in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
36.2 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.