Season by season
Winter (November–March). Polar night in Murmansk from early December to mid-January, snow cover and aurora. The port stays open; the Kara and Laptev seas freeze solid.
Spring (April–May). Long days and melting snow on the Kola Peninsula; the high Arctic remains icebound.
Summer (June–August). Midnight sun in Murmansk from about 22 May to 22 July, with temperatures of 10–18°C. This was the season for voyages to Franz Josef Land and the Pole.
Autumn (September–October). Tundra colour and the first snow. August and September were the months for Wrangel Island, when the Chukchi Sea ice is at its minimum.
Month-by-month
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -7°C / 19°F | -13°C / 9°F | Quiet |
| February | -7°C / 19°F | -13°C / 9°F | Quiet |
| March | -2°C / 28°F | -9°C / 16°F | Quiet |
| April | 3°C / 37°F | -4°C / 25°F | Quiet |
| May | 8°C / 46°F | 1°C / 34°F | Quiet |
| June | 15°C / 59°F | 6°C / 43°F | Moderate |
| July | 18°C / 64°F | 10°C / 50°F | Moderate |
| August | 15°C / 59°F | 8°C / 46°F | Moderate |
| September | 10°C / 50°F | 5°C / 41°F | Quiet |
| October | 3°C / 37°F | -1°C / 30°F | Quiet |
| November | -2°C / 28°F | -7°C / 19°F | Quiet |
| December | -5°C / 23°F | -11°C / 12°F | Quiet |
Figures for: Murmansk. Temperatures are rounded long-term averages for the place named above; real days vary widely, and wind makes it feel much colder. Crowd levels are our own estimate.
Events & festivals
- Early December–mid-January: Polar night in Murmansk
- Late January: Murmansk’s traditional festival for the first sunrise
- Late March: Festival of the North winter sports in Murmansk
- 22 May–22 July (approx.): Midnight sun in Murmansk
- July–September: Navigation season on the Northern Sea Route
