Weather and Weather Forecasts

The information below supplements that given in chapter Norway, 6. Weather and Weather Forecasts, some of which also applies to Svalbard.

Weather in the high Arctic can vary greatly from year to year, and both crew and vessel must be prepared for a wide range of conditions. These may range from warm, clear weather with light winds to cold fog, snow and very strong winds.

During June, July, and early August, winds in Svalbard are generally moderate, though exceptions can occur. Local terrain has a strong influence, and wind strength and direction can change sharply over short distances. Katabatic gusts, known locally as fallvinder, are common near steep mountains and below ice caps.

In the second half of August, weather conditions typically become more unsettled and more severe.

Navtex

Mobile phone coverage is limited to the area around the weather station on Bjørnøya, the Isfjorden area and Ny-Ålesund. As a result, access to English-language weather forecasts is restricted. A Navtex receiver will receive forecasts on 518 kHz both on the passage to Svalbard and while cruising within the archipelago.

Broadcast Radio

For those with some understanding of the Norwegian language, NRK P1 and weather forecasts are broadcast on medium wave 1 485 kHz from the transmitter in Longyearbyen and can be received in parts of the archipelago.

DAB+ radio coverage is available around Longyearbyen.

Public radio can also be accessed via the Telenor 4G/5G network in northern Bjørnøya, Longyearbyen, and Ny-Ålesund.

VHF

Bjørnøya Meteo with its antenna on the northern end of the island broadcasts weather forecasts in English for the sea area between Bjørnøya and Sørkapp at 1005 and 2205 UTC on VHF Channel 12, with an announcement made beforehand on VHF Channel 16. The forecast is also broadcast on MF 1 757 kHz, same time.

Weather forecasts in Norwegian language for coastal waters, including Spitsbergen, are broadcast via VHF relay stations on working channels at 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, and 2100 local time. These broadcasts cover large parts of the west coast of Spitsbergen, and forecasts in English are available on request.

SSB

Forecasts from Bjørnøya Meteo are also broadcast on MF.

Weather Apps

High-speed internet, such as Starlink, makes it possible to access weather apps and websites much as you would at home.