Climate Norway

Norway is a country of great contrasts in terms of climate. From the snowy peaks of Norway's fjords to its green valleys and forests. And while it is true that Norwegian winters can be cold, the country's climate is much more than just snow and ice. In fact, Norway has a wide variety of climates, ranging from very cold to very mild.

Norway is a narrow but stretched long country and, as a result, its climate can vary greatly from region to region. Norway can generally be divided into three climate zones: the polar zone, the temperate zone and the subtropical zone. The Gulf Stream also has a major influence on the climate, making the west coast (including cities such as Bergen and Stavanger) warmer and milder than other parts of the country.

Northern Norway (polar zone)

The polar zone covers the northernmost part of the country, where temperatures are almost always below freezing and average annual precipitation is low. This is the part of Norway that most people picture when they think of the country's climate.

Central Norway (temperate zone)

The temperate zone covers the central part of Norway and has a more moderate climate. Temperatures in this zone are usually above freezing, although colder periods may occur in winter. The temperate zone also receives more precipitation than the polar zone.

Southern Norway (subtropical zone)

Finally, the subtropical zone covers the southernmost part of Norway and has relatively warm temperatures throughout the year. This is due to the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water from the tropics to the Norwegian coasts. This zone receives a lot of precipitation, especially in winter.

Norway's climate in general

Precipitation is fairly common in Norway throughout the year, so bring your raincoat. The sun can be shining one moment followed by a heavy downpour. Some parts of Norway even get more than 2,000 mm of rain per year. In winter, the country receives a lot of snow, especially in the mountains.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Norwegian climate are the famous long days in the summer months. From late May to late July, the sun never sets in Norway's northernmost region. This phenomenon, known as the midnight sun, attracts visitors from all over the world who come to experience 24 hours of daylight.

View the 14 day weather forecast for Norway

Click on a region of Norway to view the climate:

Climate North Norway (Tromsø) by month

North Norway has a tundra climate. It is cold here all year round. The average annual temperature for North Norway is 3° degrees and there is about 784 mm of rain in a year. It is dry for 121 days a year with an average humidity of 84% and an UV-index of 2.




Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Day temp. (°C) -5 -4 -2 1 5 9 14 13 10 3 0 -2
Night temp. (°C) -8 -9 -7 -4 1 5 9 8 5 1 -2 -6
Water temp. (°C) 7 6 5 5 7 10 13 15 12 11 9 7
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Precipitation (mm) 60 68 81 60 50 64 50 56 66 87 75 69
Days with rain 5 4 7 10 15 19 18 18 17 15 11 7
Days with snow 15 15 22 16 7 2 - - 1 8 12 18
Dry days 11 9 2 4 9 9 13 13 12 8 7 6
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sun hours per day 1 3 3 5 4 0 3 8 6 3 1 0
Wind force (Bft) 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3
UV-index 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 1 2

Weather data from: Tromsø

Climate South Norway (Oslo) by month

South Norway has a tundra climate. It is cold here all year round. The average annual temperature for South Norway is 8° degrees and there is about 527 mm of rain in a year. It is dry for 149 days a year with an average humidity of 83% and an UV-index of 3.




Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Day temp. (°C) -3 -3 2 8 15 18 20 18 15 8 2 -2
Night temp. (°C) -8 -9 -5 1 6 8 11 10 7 3 -1 -5
Water temp. (°C) 8 6 5 10 14 18 20 21 18 15 12 10
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Precipitation (mm) 25 28 32 26 50 54 62 64 45 51 55 34
Days with rain 2 2 4 11 17 18 22 20 15 14 10 6
Days with snow 14 13 12 6 1 - - - - 4 9 12
Dry days 15 13 15 13 13 12 9 11 15 13 11 13
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sun hours per day 3 3 5 8 9 12 10 9 8 4 4 3
Wind force (Bft) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
UV-index 1 1 1 3 4 4 4 4 3 2 2 1

Weather data from: Oslo

Climate Southwest Norway (Bergen) by month

Southwest Norway has a tundra climate. It is cold here all year round. The average annual temperature for Southwest Norway is 9° degrees and there is about 1312 mm of rain in a year. It is dry for 107 days a year with an average humidity of 78% and an UV-index of 3.




Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Day temp. (°C) 3 3 4 7 11 14 16 16 14 10 7 4
Night temp. (°C) 1 0 1 4 7 10 12 13 11 8 5 2
Water temp. (°C) 8 7 6 9 12 15 16 18 17 14 12 10
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Precipitation (mm) 113 90 115 65 64 54 72 100 132 195 147 165
Days with rain 16 14 19 16 16 15 20 22 22 21 20 21
Days with snow 9 7 7 2 1 - - - - - 2 7
Dry days 6 7 5 12 14 15 11 9 8 10 8 3
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sun hours per day 2 4 5 8 10 10 10 8 6 4 4 2
Wind force (Bft) 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4
UV-index 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 3 2 2 2

Weather data from: Bergen

Climate Central Norway (Trondheim) by month

Central Norway has a tundra climate. It is cold here all year round. The average annual temperature for Central Norway is 7° degrees and there is about 463 mm of rain in a year. It is dry for 159 days a year with an average humidity of 82% and an UV-index of 2.




Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Day temp. (°C) -2 -1 1 5 12 14 18 17 13 7 2 -1
Night temp. (°C) -6 -6 -4 0 4 7 10 9 7 3 0 -4
Water temp. (°C) 8 8 7 8 11 15 15 17 16 13 11 10
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Precipitation (mm) 38 33 49 31 27 45 38 47 37 45 29 43
Days with rain 8 7 11 14 14 15 16 16 15 16 11 12
Days with snow 10 11 12 6 2 - - - - 1 4 11
Dry days 13 10 8 10 15 15 15 15 15 14 15 8
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sun hours per day 3 4 4 6 10 9 11 9 7 5 4 1
Wind force (Bft) 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3
UV-index 2 1 1 2 3 4 4 3 3 2 2 1

Weather data from: Trondheim

Travel and stay Norway

If you are planning on visiting Norway, check out these well-known travel agencies. They have been rated as the best by travelers and offer great prices for any budget.

Airline tickets

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Best time to visit Norway

With its dramatic landscapes and abundance of outdoor activities, Norway is a top destination for nature lovers. But when is the best time to visit Norway? The answer depends on what you want to see and do.

Summer

. Summer (June-August) is the most popular time to visit Norway, and for good reason. The weather is warm and sunny, making it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking and biking. The days are also much longer in summer, which means you have more time to explore all that Norway has to offer. However, summer is also high season for tourists, making it the busiest and most expensive time to travel. So if you want to avoid the crowds and save some money, consider visiting in spring or autumn.


Spring and autumn

. Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are both wonderful seasons in Norway. The weather is milder than in summer, but still pleasant enough to enjoy the outdoors. It is also less crowded during these months and you have somewhat lower prices. However, you do have a chance that some attractions may be closed.

Winter

. Winter (December-February) can be a magical time to visit Norway. In winter you can see the northern lights, dog sledding, snowmobiling and skiing at some of Europe's best resorts. If you're hoping to see the Northern Lights, this is the time of year to go. Keep in mind, however, that winter can also be cold and dark, especially in northern Norway. If you are not a fan of cold weather, you may be better off staying in southern Norway during the winter. No matter when you choose to visit Norway, you are sure to have an unforgettable trip!

Norway weather by month

What is the average Norway weather like in a given month? Let's find out! Click on a month to check all the monthly averages for sunshine, temperature highs and lows, percentage chance of rain per day, snowfall accumulation and number of rainy days.


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Frequently asked questions

Where is Norway?

Norway lies in a straight line about 5,426 km from Pakistan (Islamabad → Oslo). By car the distance is 8,338 km. The total travel time is 96 hours and 40 minutes.

How long is the flight to Norway?

The flight time from Jinnah International Airport to Norway is approximately 8 h. 10 min.

What are the largest airports in Norway?

These are the largest airports in Norway:

  • Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) in Oslo
  • Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO) in Bergen
  • Stavanger Airport Sola (SVG) in Stavanger
  • Trondheim Airport Værnes (TRD) in Trondheim
  • Ålesund Airport (AES) in Ålesund
  • Bodø Airport (BOO) in Bodø
  • Mo i Rana Airport, Røssvoll (MQN) in Mo i Rana
  • Narvik Framnes Airport (NVK) in Narvik
  • Alta Airport (ALF) in Alta
  • Hammerfest Airport (HFT) in Hammerfest

Airports on the well-known islands of Norway:

  • Karmøy
    Haugesund Airport (HAU) in Haugesund

How many inhabitants does Norway have?

Norway has 5,302,778 inhabitants.

How big is Norway?

The surface area of Norway is 324,220 km². It is 2,5x smaller than Pakistan.

What is the capital of Norway?

The capital of Norway is Oslo.

What is the area code of Norway?

The area code to call Norway is +47.

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