The Climate of
Norway
Farm in Eidfjord overlooking Simadalsfjorden
Climate Map
Climate map of Norway
What is the climate of Norway like?
Norway is located on the Scandinavian peninsula in northern Europe, west of Sweden and east of the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea. The country also shares borders with Russia and Finland. Norway stretches about 1,770 km (1,100 miles) from south to north between 58° and 71°N. The northern part of the country, inside the Arctic Circle, has continuous daylight in midsummer and arctic twilight all day in winter. Norway has a long and very indented coast on the North Sea and the Atlantic with many steep bays or fjords. Countless small islands lie off the coast. Much of the interior is made up of high mountains and plateaux that rise to over 1,500 meters (5,000 feet). The largest lowland area is around Oslo and this is the driest and warmest part of the country in summer.
The warm waters of the Gulf Stream and the prevailing westerly winds ensure Norway has a mild climate, despite the country being so far north. This keeps the sea from freezing over and keeps ports open all year round. Along the west and southwest coasts, maximum temperatures average 3°C (38°F) in January and 19°C (66°F) in July. Occasionally in winter, strong cold winds blow from the snow-capped highlands into the fjords.
In the interior of Norway, the climate is more extreme and the temperature range is wider. The interior highlands have an arctic climate in winter, with snow, strong winds and severe frosts, but during fine periods in summer, daytime temperatures can get quite high with long hours of sunshine. The arctic north is much colder than the south, but again, the Gulf Stream keeps temperatures relatively warm and the coast ice-free. Oslo, in the southern interior, has an average high of 22°C (72°F) in July and 0°C (31°F) in January.
Norway's climate and weather are heavily influenced by Atlantic weather disturbances, so the weather is changeable throughout the year. Coastal areas to the west receive rainfall almost all year round. Some areas average 3,300 millimeters (130 inches). Inland, the precipitation is not so great. Oslo, in the southern interior, averages 800 millimeters (32 inches) of rainfall per year.
Storms, rain and clouds are the predominant features of the coast and it rains frequently and heavily (see the climate of Bergen). Towards the north, rainfall decreases but is frequent, and winter often snows at sea level (Narvik has a typical climate for this region). In the more extensive lowland areas of the south, winters can be colder, with more frequent frosts than on the Atlantic coast, but summers are warmer and drier (see Oslo's climate).
| Climate data for Bergen (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 3.9 (39.0) | 3.9 (39.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | 9.4 (48.9) | 13.3 (55.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 14.4 (57.9) | 10.6 (51.1) | 6.7 (44.1) | 4.4 (39.9) | 10.3 (50.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) | 1.4 (34.5) | 2.8 (37.0) | 5.8 (42.4) | 9.5 (49.1) | 12.5 (54.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 14.5 (58.1) | 11.4 (52.5) | 8.1 (46.6) | 4.2 (39.6) | 1.9 (35.4) | 7.3 (45.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) | −1.1 (30.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | 2.2 (36.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | 8.9 (48.0) | 11.1 (52.0) | 11.1 (52.0) | 8.3 (46.9) | 5.6 (42.1) | 1.7 (35.1) | −0.6 (30.9) | 4.3 (39.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 225.5 (8.88) | 169.4 (6.67) | 188.8 (7.43) | 144.5 (5.69) | 110.8 (4.36) | 111.6 (4.39) | 157.0 (6.18) | 189.7 (7.47) | 272.7 (10.74) | 257.5 (10.14) | 296.1 (11.66) | 223.9 (8.81) | 2,347.6 (92.43) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Narvik (1961-90) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −2 (28) | −2 (28) | 1 (34) | 5 (41) | 9 (48) | 14 (57) | 18 (64) | 16 (61) | 12 (54) | 6 (43) | 3 (37) | −1 (30) | 7 (44) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.1 (24.6) | −3.9 (25.0) | −2 (28) | 1.8 (35.2) | 6.9 (44.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 13.4 (56.1) | 12.5 (54.5) | 8.4 (47.1) | 4.2 (39.6) | −0.2 (31.6) | −2.7 (27.1) | 3.8 (38.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −7 (19) | −7 (19) | −5 (23) | −2 (28) | 3 (37) | 7 (45) | 11 (52) | 10 (50) | 6 (43) | 2 (36) | −2 (28) | −5 (23) | 1 (34) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 69 (2.7) | 64 (2.5) | 49 (1.9) | 44 (1.7) | 40 (1.6) | 53 (2.1) | 74 (2.9) | 82 (3.2) | 92 (3.6) | 110 (4.3) | 75 (3.0) | 78 (3.1) | 830 (32.7) |
| Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute – eKlima portal | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Oslo (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) | 0.5 (32.9) | 4.4 (39.9) | 10.1 (50.2) | 16.5 (61.7) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.3 (72.1) | 20.9 (69.6) | 15.7 (60.3) | 9.4 (48.9) | 3.9 (39.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | 10.3 (50.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.9 (26.8) | −2.4 (27.7) | 1.0 (33.8) | 5.9 (42.6) | 11.6 (52.9) | 15.3 (59.5) | 17.7 (63.9) | 16.6 (61.9) | 11.9 (53.4) | 6.6 (43.9) | 1.6 (34.9) | −2.3 (27.9) | 6.8 (44.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −5.3 (22.5) | −5.3 (22.5) | −2.4 (27.7) | 1.7 (35.1) | 6.7 (44.1) | 10.5 (50.9) | 13.0 (55.4) | 12.2 (54.0) | 8.0 (46.4) | 3.8 (38.8) | −0.6 (30.9) | −4.7 (23.5) | 3.2 (37.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 54.9 (2.16) | 41.0 (1.61) | 50.4 (1.98) | 46.9 (1.85) | 54.1 (2.13) | 70.5 (2.78) | 84.7 (3.33) | 97.8 (3.85) | 80.6 (3.17) | 90.4 (3.56) | 79.1 (3.11) | 52.4 (2.06) | 802.7 (31.60) |
| Source: Météo Climat | |||||||||||||
Norway is the land of the midnight sun in the North Cape region, with 24-hour daylight from mid-May to late July, where the sun never sets. Conversely, from the end of November to the end of January there are long winter nights when the sun does not rise above the horizon and the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis can be seen.
When is the best time to visit Norway?
Half of Norway is within the Arctic Circle, but the Gulf Stream tempers the climate to mild on the coast. The mountain air is cold and dry; summers are sunny. May–June is spring; July–August is most popular, but September is also good. Winter sports are available from January to April. Oslo has 19 hours of daylight at midsummer.
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Norway
In summary:
Norway has a maritime climate, one which is relatively mild due to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Along the west and southwest coast, high temperatures average 3°C (38°F) in January and 19°C (66°F) in July. The climate is more extreme and temperature ranges are broader in Norway’s interior. The arctic north is much colder than the south, but even here the coast is ice-free. Oslo, in the southern interior, has an average high temperature of 22°C (72°F) in July and 0°C (31°F) in January.
The coastal areas of the west receive almost year-round rainfall. Some areas average 3300 mm (130 in). Precipitation is not as great in the interior. Oslo, in the southern interior, averages 800 mm (32 in) of precipitation a year.