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 are generally moderate, though exceptions do 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.

Forecasts

Navtex

Mobile phone coverage is limited to the Isfjorden area and Ny-Ålesund. As a result, access to English-language weather forecasts is restricted, making Navtex even more important than it is along the Norwegian coast. A reliable Navtex receiver will receive forecasts both on the passage to Svalbard and while cruising within the archipelago.

Broadcast Radio

For those with some understanding of Norwegian, weather forecasts are broadcast on medium wave 1485 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 broadcasts weather forecasts in English for the sea area between Bjørnøya and Sørkapp at 10:05 and 22:05 UTC on VHF channel 12, with an announcement made beforehand on VHF 16.

Weather forecasts in Norwegian for coastal waters, including Spitsbergen, are broadcast via VHF relay stations on working channels at 09:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 21:00 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. In addition, Coastal Radio North reads out weather forecasts for offshore areas in English on MF at 12:03 and 23:03 UTC.

A properly installed HF receiver can receive weather fax charts from both Germany and the UK. However, the UK fax charts do not include Svalbard. If the same UK charts are downloaded via the internet, Svalbard is shown, as the omission on the fax charts is due to the physical width of the fax transmitter drum.

GRIBs

Some GRIB files are limited to 80° N and may not cover the northern or eastern coasts of the archipelago. If sailing in these areas, their data should be supplemented with other sources. In addition to satellite communications such as Iridium, GRIB files can also be downloaded via the Telenor 4G/5G network in N-Bjørnøya, Longyearbyen, and Ny-Ålesund.

Weather Apps

Starlink’s priority offshore pay-as-you-go service allows the dish to be used while under way and offshore, providing high-speed internet on board. This makes it possible to access weather apps and websites much as you would at home.