Best time to see icebergs in Newfoundland (month by month)

Planning a Newfoundland trip around iceberg viewing requires understanding a seasonal window that is genuinely variable — the number, size, and geographic distribution of icebergs changes significantly from week to week and year to year. This guide breaks down the iceberg season month by month, explains what drives the variation, and gives you the practical tools to make the most of whatever nature provides.

How iceberg season works in Newfoundland

Icebergs originate from the glaciers of western Greenland, which calve pieces of ancient ice into Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait. These bergs — ranging from car-sized “growlers” to 30-metre-tall “large bergs” — are carried south by the Labrador Current along the eastern coast of Labrador and Newfoundland.

The journey from Greenland to Newfoundland takes 2-3 years. By the time an iceberg reaches Newfoundland’s eastern coast, it has been sculpted by wind, wave, and partial melting into the fantastical arches, towers, and castellated shapes that make them so photogenic.

The quantity of icebergs varies dramatically from year to year, depending on:

• Greenland glacial activity: More calving produces more icebergs downstream
• Wind and current patterns: Different Labrador Current configurations route icebergs closer to or farther from shore
• Atlantic water temperatures: Warmer Atlantic water accelerates melting as icebergs move south

The International Ice Patrol (operated by the US Coast Guard since the Titanic disaster) tracks icebergs annually. Annual counts at the 48th parallel (roughly the latitude of St. John’s) have ranged from fewer than 100 to over 2,000 in different years. Most years see several hundred icebergs reaching visible range from Newfoundland.

Month-by-month iceberg guide

March: Very early season

Availability: Rare — occasional icebergs visible from the northern Newfoundland coast and Labrador, but not reliably from most visitor locations.

Best locations for March: St. Anthony and the northern tip of the Northern Peninsula. The icebergs are arriving from Labrador; the first of the season appear offshore here before anywhere else.

Should you plan a trip for March? Only if you are combining with other Newfoundland activities and early iceberg season is a bonus rather than the primary goal. The weather is harsh, many tourism services are closed, and iceberg sightings are not guaranteed.

April: Early season — reliable at the north

Availability: Building. Northern Newfoundland (St. Anthony and the Northern Peninsula) typically has reliable iceberg viewing from mid-April. Numbers are increasing weekly.

Best locations for April: St. Anthony — specifically Fishing Point Park, where the clifftop viewpoint looks directly into the Labrador Current. This is the single most reliable shore-based iceberg spot in April.

Weather: Cold. Temperatures in St. Anthony average 2-7°C in April, with frequent wind. Boat tours are operating but conditions can be rough. Dress for genuine winter.

Should you plan a trip for April? Yes, if you are specifically chasing the experience before crowds and accommodation restrictions of peak season. St. Anthony is genuinely productive. Be prepared for variable weather and cold conditions.

What you’ll see: Often the first icebergs of the season — frequently larger bergs that have survived the journey from Greenland largely intact, not yet significantly sculpted by melting. April bergs can be enormous.

May: Peak season — the best month

Availability: Peak. May is historically the single best month for iceberg viewing across Newfoundland. Numbers are typically at their maximum; icebergs are visible from multiple locations simultaneously, from St. Anthony in the north to the Avalon Peninsula in the south.

Best locations for May: All of the main viewing areas are productive:

• St. Anthony / Fishing Point: Multiple bergs visible simultaneously on good days. Boat tours get extraordinary proximity.
• Twillingate / Long Point Lighthouse: The Iceberg Capital of the World at its most productive. Icebergs regularly ground in Notre Dame Bay, sitting within view for days.
• Fogo Island: Excellent shore-based viewing from the island’s eastern headlands.
• Bonavista Peninsula: Boat tours from Trinity and Bonavista encounter icebergs reliably.
• Avalon Peninsula: By late May, icebergs begin arriving off the eastern Avalon coast — visible from the cliffs between Ferryland and Calvert.

Weather: Variable. May temperatures average 8-14°C in St. John’s; colder and windier at St. Anthony. Rain and fog are common but sunny days occur. Wind-proof and waterproof layers are essential.

Wildlife overlap: The first humpback whales arrive in late May. Some May boat tours from St. Anthony and Twillingate encounter both icebergs and whales — a combination that is the defining Newfoundland wildlife experience.

Accommodation: Book ahead for Twillingate (very limited rooms) and St. Anthony. May is peak iceberg season and these communities are popular with dedicated visitors.

Should you plan a trip for May? Absolutely. This is the recommended month for iceberg viewing in Newfoundland. The probability of productive sightings is highest, the bergs are at their best, and the emerging whale activity adds a bonus layer.

Browse Newfoundland wildlife tours and iceberg experiences

June: Still excellent, especially early in the month

Availability: Very good through mid-June; declining significantly in the second half. The transition from peak to post-season occurs through June as warmer Atlantic water and longer daylight accelerate melting.

Best locations for June:

• Early June: All main locations remain productive. The Avalon Peninsula (Ferryland, Witless Bay area) is at its most reliable for shore-based viewing from June 1-20.
• Late June: Northern locations (St. Anthony, Twillingate) are still productive; southern locations (Avalon Peninsula) are becoming unreliable.

Wildlife overlap: June is excellent for puffins and humpback whales at Witless Bay — and the first half of June still offers iceberg potential in the same area. A three-way combination of icebergs, puffins, and whales is possible in early June and genuinely occurs in good years.

Weather: June is significantly more comfortable than April or May — temperatures in St. John’s average 13-18°C. Fog remains common on the eastern coast.

Should you plan a trip for June? Yes, particularly the first two weeks. June is an excellent compromise for visitors who want iceberg viewing alongside more comfortable weather and the full start of wildlife season. The wildlife combination (puffins at Witless Bay, whales, potential icebergs) makes June the most multidimensional month for Newfoundland wildlife.

July: Stragglers only — do not plan primarily for icebergs

Availability: Low. July icebergs are stragglers — occasional late-season bergs that have taken longer than average to travel south or have been held in cold water longer. They occur, but cannot be planned for.

Best locations for July icebergs: If any icebergs are present in July, they are typically in the far north — St. Anthony, or farther north in Labrador.

Should you plan a trip for July primarily for icebergs? No. July is an excellent time to visit Newfoundland for whale watching, puffins, coastal hiking, and St. John’s, but iceberg viewing should not be a primary July motivation.

Iceberg alert exception: In very high-iceberg years (when the annual count exceeds 1,000 at the 48th parallel), July icebergs can still be surprisingly productive, particularly in northern Newfoundland. Check IcebergFinder.com in the weeks before a July visit to assess current conditions.

August-October: Post-season

Icebergs are essentially absent from Newfoundland waters by August in most years. August through October is excellent for whale watching, hiking, fall colours, and Newfoundland cultural experiences, but not for icebergs.

Year-to-year variability: what the data shows

The annual iceberg count at the 48th parallel (a standardised monitoring point) varies enormously:

• Low years: 100-300 icebergs. Still productive at St. Anthony and Twillingate in May; less reliable on the Avalon.
• Average years: 400-800 icebergs. Good viewing across all main locations in May and early June.
• High years: 1,000+ icebergs. Spectacular viewing across the province; icebergs visible from June into early July in some areas.

The years following periods of high Greenland glacial activity tend to produce high iceberg counts 2-3 years later (the journey time from Greenland). Arctic climate patterns influence counts; there is no simple predictive formula.

How to check real-time iceberg sightings

The most reliable current resource is IcebergFinder.com, operated by the Memorial University of Newfoundland and the C-CORE research group. The site aggregates verified recent sightings by location and date, allowing you to check in the week before your trip for current conditions.

Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism (newfoundlandlabrador.com) also posts iceberg sighting updates during the season.

Marine Atlantic: Their vessels cross the Cabot Strait regularly and officers report iceberg sightings; occasionally useful for general conditions.

Social media: The Facebook group “Iceberg Sightings in Newfoundland” aggregates recent verified sightings from locals and visitors. Unexpectedly useful.

Planning around iceberg uncertainty

The fundamental challenge of planning an iceberg trip is that sightings cannot be guaranteed regardless of timing. Even in peak May, a visitor who arrives during a week of fog and wind may see nothing; another visitor on a calm clear day sees four icebergs simultaneously. Strategies for managing this:

Book for May: The probability of productive sightings is highest in May. The law of averages favours you.

Allow 3+ days: A 3-day stay at a prime iceberg location (Twillingate, St. Anthony) dramatically improves your odds of a clear day compared to a 1-day visit.

Choose versatile locations: Twillingate and St. Anthony both have excellent whale watching, boat tours, and other activities for days when iceberg conditions are poor.

Don’t anchor the whole trip on icebergs: Newfoundland has so much else — puffins, whales, Screech-Ins, L’Anse aux Meadows, Gros Morne — that a low-iceberg year still produces an extraordinary trip.

Travel insurance: If iceberg viewing is the primary purpose of your trip, travel insurance that covers activity-specific circumstances is worth considering. Most operators offer weather-related rescheduling.

Best iceberg viewing spots summary

Location	Best months	Key advantage
St. Anthony	Apr-Jun	Earliest season; free shore viewing at Fishing Point
Twillingate	May-Jun	Best-known spot; icebergs ground in bay; excellent boat tours
Fogo Island	May-Jun	Remote, uncrowded; eastern shore faces Labrador Sea
Bonavista/Trinity	May-Jun	Accessible from east of the island; good boat tours
Avalon Peninsula	Late May-Jun	Accessible from St. John’s; pairs with puffins/whales
Ferryland cliff	May-Jun	Free shore viewing; spectacular cliff backdrop

Book Newfoundland iceberg and wildlife tours

Related planning resources

Our iceberg viewing guide covers specific locations, boat tour operators, and photography tips in detail.

The 7-day Newfoundland Avalon Peninsula itinerary is built for June timing to maximise the iceberg-puffin-whale overlap.

The 7-day Viking Trail itinerary covers St. Anthony and the northern peninsula, where iceberg viewing is most productive in April-June.

Frequently asked questions about Best time to see icebergs in Newfoundland (month by month)

What is the single best week to see icebergs in Newfoundland?

The second and third weeks of May, statistically, provide the most reliable iceberg viewing across the province. But this varies year to year; checking IcebergFinder.com in the week before your trip is the best real-time guidance.

Can I see icebergs from St. John’s?

Occasionally — icebergs drift into the approaches to St. John’s Harbour in good years, visible from Signal Hill. But this is not reliable. Shore-based viewing is more consistently productive at the Ferryland-Witless Bay area coastline, 45-70 km south of the city.

Are icebergs safe to approach?

From shore, safely. On boat tours with reputable operators, yes — they maintain appropriate distances. Do not approach icebergs yourself by kayak or personal watercraft; rolling and calving are unpredictable and create waves large enough to capsize small watercraft.

What if I see no icebergs during my visit?

Newfoundland offers extraordinary wildlife, history, and culture in any month of the iceberg season. The puffin colonies at Witless Bay and Elliston, the humpback whale watching, the Screech-In ceremony, and the landscapes of Gros Morne and the Avalon Peninsula are all exceptional regardless of iceberg conditions.

How big are the icebergs?

The International Ice Patrol classifies icebergs from “growlers” (less than 1 metre above water) to “very large bergs” (more than 75 metres above water — equivalent to a 25-storey building). Most icebergs visible from shore in Newfoundland are in the “medium” to “large” category — 5-20 metres above water. Remember that approximately 90% of the ice is below the waterline.