Snow in North Greenland: Extreme Accumulation

Yes, North Greenland receives heavy snowfall. Greenland overall gets >2/3 of its precipitation as snow. North Greenland—colder and more polar—sees exceptionally high accumulation.

• Typical December: 100+ inches (8+ feet) of snow.
• Annual accumulation: 300–600+ inches in many areas.
• Low temperatures preserve snow; minimal melt → massive ice sheet growth.

The Greenland Ice Sheet (up to 3 km thick) is fed by this relentless accumulation. Coastal North Greenland (e.g., Qaanaaq/Thule) is a polar desert with low precipitation, but the interior and ice sheet margins receive prodigious snowfall.

For perspective: 100 inches in a month exceeds annual snowfall in all but the snowiest US cities (e.g., Syracuse, Buffalo).