The colossal ice-cap has its own climatic character. The edges of the inland ice experience frequent hurricanes and snow storms. On a yearly average, a metre of snow falls on the ice-cap. This is the equivalent of 34-35 centimetres of water. Annually, Greenland's southern region receives over 2000 mm more rain than the northern region.

There are also marked differences in the climate along the coastal regions and in the hinterland.