Spring in Murmansk, Russia, brings some of the most dramatic seasonal shifts you’ll ever see in the Arctic. Snow starts pulling back, daylight stretches out fast, and the air slowly swaps its deep winter bite for something milder.
Average daily high temperatures jump from around 23°F in early March to about 50°F by late May, so you really feel how quickly things change.
It’s not just the temperatures you’ll notice. Cloud cover thins out, snow turns to rain, and those endless winter nights give way to the midnight sun.
By late spring, the sun barely sets—a strange, almost otherworldly vibe that shapes life in Murmansk at this time of year.
If you’re thinking about exploring the city or wandering its wild surroundings, spring throws a mix of challenges and surprises your way. Roads thaw, daylight almost never ends, and the weather flips between cold, wet, and unexpectedly pleasant.
This season really sets the scene for both the natural beauty and the practical quirks you’ll want to know before you go.
Overview of Spring Climate in Murmansk
Spring in Murmansk crawls away from the long, brutal winter toward something gentler, but it doesn’t hurry.
You’ll spot rising temperatures, longer days, and a slow switch from snow to rain as the weeks tick by.
Key Spring Weather Characteristics
From March to May, Murmansk’s weather changes fast. In March, average highs hover near -2°C (28°F), with lows sinking to about -9°C (16°F).
By May, highs reach around 8°C (46°F), and lows stay close to 1°C (34°F).
March and April still see plenty of snow, but it fades by late spring. Rain picks up in May, signaling a shift to wetter days.
You’ll still get plenty of cloudy skies, but sunlight starts breaking through more often.
Daylight explodes. March brings about 10 hours, but by May, you’re looking at nearly 20 hours a day.
That kind of change really shapes daily life and whatever plans you might have outdoors.
Humidity usually hangs between 70–80%, so the air can feel a bit damp even when it’s cold.
Winds blow harder in early spring and add to the chill, but they usually calm down as things warm up.
Geographical and Climatic Context
Murmansk sits above the Arctic Circle, so it has a subarctic climate (Dfc).
Winter dominates most of the year, and summers are short and cool.
Spring acts as a bridge between extremes, shaped by both its high latitude and the nearby Barents Sea.
The sea helps take the edge off the cold, but leftover ice and snow keep things chilly.
Murmansk warms up slower than places further inland, thanks to that maritime influence.
You’ll still see frozen ground in April, even as the days get longer.
Because it’s so far north, Murmansk’s sunlight shifts in wild ways.
The city goes from endless nights in winter to almost nonstop daylight by late spring.
The land around Murmansk is hilly and close to the sea, which tweaks the weather even more.
Fog and mist show up a lot in spring, especially when warmer air brushes over cold water.
Comparison to Other Seasons
Spring in Murmansk feels less harsh than winter, but it’s still colder than most visitors expect.
Unlike summer, when highs can hit 17°C (63°F), spring barely gets out of single digits until late May.
Spring is wetter and brighter than autumn, which brings a quick slide back into cold and snow by October.
Spring warms up slowly, with rain becoming more common as the days grow longer.
Winter’s the toughest stretch, with lows near -13°C (9°F) and no daylight at all in December.
Spring gives you longer days and milder weather, but snow and ice still linger until late in the season.
If you’re traveling, spring is easier to navigate than winter but doesn’t offer the warmth of summer.
It’s a time when you’ll catch both the last traces of winter and the first signs of a real thaw.
Average Spring Temperatures
Spring in Murmansk nudges the Arctic winter out the door, but it takes its time.
Early on, it’s still cold, but by late spring, you’ll feel the air soften, snow turning to rain and the days stretching out.
March Temperature Patterns
March keeps Murmansk in winter’s grip.
Average highs hover near 23°F (-5°C), while lows often sink to about 10°F (-12°C).
Nights can still drop below zero, and snow falls pretty much all month.
Daylight picks up fast, which helps, but the cold hangs on and winds can make it feel even sharper.
You’ll see about 6 inches of snow pile up over the month.
Rain is rare, but you might get a bit of mixed precipitation near the end.
If you’re visiting, bundle up—temperatures often stay below freezing, even by day.
April Temperature Trends
By April, things start to ease up.
Average highs reach about 37°F (3°C), and lows creep up to 25°F (-4°C).
You might still wake up to icy mornings, but afternoons don’t bite as much as in March.
Snow drops off quickly, while rain starts to show up more often.
Total precipitation climbs, with more days bringing light rain or that awkward rain-snow mix.
Surfaces get slippery, especially when things freeze and thaw again and again.
Daylight grows fast, and by late April, nights are barely more than a brief twilight.
All that light speeds up the snowmelt, so you’ll find slush and muddy patches everywhere.
Waterproof shoes start to make more sense than heavy boots.
May Temperature Changes
May is when you really feel the shift.
Average highs get up to 50°F (10°C), and nighttime lows stay around 37°F (3°C).
Freezing nights become rare, and snow almost totally vanishes by the end of the month.
Rain picks up, and your chances of a wet day reach about 30%.
Snowfall drops to nearly nothing, and May marks the start of the short growing season.
By late May, the midnight sun kicks in, and the sun just doesn’t set.
That endless daylight, paired with milder air, makes Murmansk feel completely different from just a couple of months earlier.
You’ll watch the city shake off winter and lurch into a brief but lively spring.
Precipitation and Humidity During Spring
Spring in Murmansk quickly moves from snowy streets to wetter, rainier days as things warm up.
Snow falls off fast, rain steps in, but the air stays pretty dry for the most part.
Rainfall and Snowfall Statistics
March starts with snow still in charge—about 5–6 inches falls over the month.
By late May, that’s down to less than 1 inch, so winter fades out fast.
Rain, on the other hand, ramps up.
Early spring might only bring 0.1 inches of rain, but by late May, you’re looking at 1.9 inches or so.
After mid-spring, rain shows up more than snow.
The odds of a wet day go from about 15% in March to 30% in late May.
Meanwhile, days with just snow drop from 12% to almost zero.
Mixed snow and rain days stay low, around 3%.
So, pack for slush in March and expect rainier weather by May.
Waterproof boots help early on, but by the end of spring, lighter rain gear is usually enough.
Humidity Levels in Spring
Humidity in Murmansk doesn’t really budge in spring.
Dew points stay low, so even as it gets warmer, the air feels dry.
You won’t run into muggy or sticky weather—honestly, it’s just not a thing here.
Even in May, when rain picks up, the air still feels crisp.
That dryness is classic for these high-latitude spots, since cold air can’t hold much moisture.
Your skin might get dry, especially early in spring when the wind’s up.
A little moisturizer or lip balm goes a long way.
Since humidity isn’t much of a factor, you’ll mostly be managing temps and precipitation, not heavy, sticky air.
Spring in Murmansk is easier to handle than places where the humidity soaks you.
Spring Daylight, Polar Night, and Midnight Sun
Spring in Murmansk means wild changes in sunlight.
You go from short winter days right into a time when the sun barely sets, rolling straight into the midnight sun.
These swings in daylight can shape your plans just as much as the temperature does.
Day Length and Sunlight Hours
Early March gives you about 9 hours and 40 minutes of daylight.
Sunrise is around 8:10 AM, sunset near 5:50 PM.
By late May, daylight stretches past 18 hours, and the sun barely dips below the horizon.
Each week in spring, you gain more than an hour of light.
By May 20, the sun sets just after midnight and pops back up less than an hour later.
This rapid swing in sunlight changes how you go about your day.
You can plan long hikes or city strolls without worrying about darkness sneaking up.
Twilight also hangs around longer than you’d expect, so evenings feel endless.
Murmansk doesn’t do daylight saving time, so these sunrise and sunset times stay pretty steady year after year.
Transition from Polar Night to Midnight Sun
Since Murmansk is above the Arctic Circle, you get both polar night in winter and the midnight sun in summer.
Spring is when everything flips.
Polar night ends in late January, and daylight creeps back.
Through March and April, the sun climbs higher, and by late May, you hit the midnight sun.
Murmansk’s midnight sun lasts for about two months.
It starts around May 21, when the sun rises just after midnight and doesn’t set again until late July.
So, spring ends with 24-hour daylight.
You’ll want to pack a sleep mask or blackout curtains if you’re sensitive to light.
Some travelers love the novelty, but it can mess with your sleep until you get used to it.
Cloud Cover and Sunshine in Spring
Spring skies in Murmansk shift from heavy gray to brighter, more open days.
You notice more daylight and longer periods of sun as spring rolls on, but overcast skies are still pretty common early in the season.
Cloudiness Patterns
Cloud cover drops steadily through spring.
In March, skies are overcast about 80% of the time, making everything feel dim.
By late May, that falls to around 60%, so you get more breaks of blue.
It’s not a smooth transition—early March is thick with low clouds and snow, while April brings more blue-sky moments.
By the end of May, you’ll see partly cloudy to mostly clear skies about 40% of the time, especially as the midnight sun starts up.
For comparison, December is the grayest month with overcast skies on more than 85% of days, while July is the brightest, with nearly half the days showing some sun.
This spring shift marks the start of a brighter season, even if you’re not getting full-on sunny days just yet.
Average Sunshine Hours
Daylight in Murmansk rockets up in spring.
On March 1, you get just under 10 hours of daylight, and by late May, the sun barely sets.
So, the amount of visible daylight more than doubles in three months.
Actual sunshine hours depend on how thick the clouds are.
In March, you’ll likely see 2–3 hours of sunshine per day on average.
By May, that jumps to 6–7 hours daily, especially as the sun hangs above the horizon for most of the night.
Summer is when sunshine peaks, but late spring already gives you those long, glowing evenings.
Even with some lingering clouds, all that extra daylight totally changes the city’s mood, making it easier and way more inviting to get outside.
Travel Tips for Visiting Murmansk in Spring
Spring hits Murmansk with longer days, melting snow, and temperatures that swing between freezing nights and surprisingly mild afternoons. If you plan ahead, you’ll get to enjoy this odd mix of lingering winter and the first hints of summer.
Best Time to Visit
Spring in Murmansk stretches from March to May, but the weather can flip quickly. March usually stays cold, with average temps hovering around -5 °C (23 °F). You’ll still see plenty of snow.
By April, things get brighter, and daytime highs can reach 3 °C (37 °F). Nights still dip below freezing, though.
May finally feels more comfortable, with averages between 5 and 9 °C (41–48 °F). Daylight nearly lasts 22 hours, which is wild if you’ve never experienced it.
If you’re hoping to catch the Northern Lights, you’ll want to visit in early March. After that, the polar nights wrap up, and by late April or May, the sky just stays too bright for auroras. On the upside, you get endless daylight for exploring the city.
A lot of travelers who want to hike or just wander around the city usually pick May. At that point, roads and trails clear up, and you can finally spend more time outside without bundling up in heavy winter gear.
Packing and Preparation Advice
Pack for layered clothing, since temperatures can swing wildly—from below freezing at night to surprisingly mild afternoons. You’ll want a warm jacket, thermal base layers, and waterproof outerwear if you’re heading there in March or April.
By May, you can get away with lighter coats. Still, it’s smart to keep gloves and a hat nearby—spring up north isn’t exactly predictable.
Footwear really matters. Snow and slush tend to stick around until late spring, so you’ll probably want waterproof boots with decent grip instead of sneakers.
Don’t forget sunglasses—the bright, low-angle sunlight bouncing off the snow can be blinding. Sunscreen’s a good call too, especially in May, when daylight almost never seems to end.
If you’re traveling around Murmansk, expect some delays in early spring because of icy roads. Public transport usually sticks to the schedule, but rural trips? Those can take longer than you’d think.
Always check the local forecast before you head out. Sudden cold snaps still happen, even when you think winter should be over.