Arctic ClimatePrecipitation
Precipitation amounts in the Arctic vary widely. Where the warm North Atlantic Current passes Greenland and enters the Norwegian and Barents Seas, precipitation ranges from 400 to over 1000 mm/yr (16-40 inches). Over the Beaufort Sea and Northern Greenland, precipitation averages as little as 150 mm/yr (6 inches). The rest of the Arctic falls between these extremes with continental areas being wetter than oceanic areas.
In winter, away from the open waters of the North Atlantic, there is little moisture available for precipitation. Snow and ice cover combined with cold temperatures keep humidity low. As a result, heavy snowfall is not common in the Arctic and exceptionally heavy snowfalls are restricted to mountainous and maritime areas.