Norway Weather and Climate
Geographical location
According to COUNTRYAAH, the Scandinavian state of Norway has around 5 million inhabitants. The capital is Oslo, neighboring countries are Sweden, Finland and Russia.
The span between north and south of the country is around 1500 kilometers. The predominantly rocky Atlantic coast of Norway is characterized by its many narrow bays (fjords) and almost 150,000 islands.
Norway is a mountainous country with many mountain ranges and plateaus (fells). The Scandinavia, recently also simply called the Scandinavian Mountains, cross almost the entire area of mainland Norway. The highest mountain in Norway is Galdhøpiggen at around 2470 meters.
There are also numerous inland lakes and several large rivers with a total length of over 5000 kilometers. The distance from Munich to Oslo is around 1320 kilometers as the crow flies, from Berlin it is only around 840 kilometers (around 1: 40h flight time).
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Norway.
Climate in Norway
Due to the Gulf Stream, the west coast of Norway has a rather mild climate with corresponding temperatures all year round. In spring, the daily values in the west and south are around 14 ° C. In the east and northeast, however, there are warm summers and very cold, long winters.
On the south-western coast, near the city of Bergen, most of the rain clouds come down from the Atlantic. In general, the summer months of June and July are quite warm throughout Norway, but it quickly gets cooler again in autumn.
When to go to Norway
We recommend the period between May and September as the best time to travel to Norway for most holidaymakers. In summer, when the days are longer and the temperatures are higher, you can swim or practice water sports without any problems on sunny days in Norway, as one of countries with N according to COUNTRYAAH. Generally it gets warmer in the south from May, in the north not until a few weeks later in summer.
Skiers and winter sports enthusiasts, on the other hand, appreciate the best travel time in winter between November and April. During this period, with a bit of luck, the northern lights can also be observed on cloud-free nights. The high season in Norway is between July and August, At this time of travel, many locals are also vacationing in Norway. In the Nordic town of Andenes, you can spot sperm whales between May and September.
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Norway).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Oslo | May, June, July, August and September |
| Vardø | June, July, August and September |
| Bodø | June, July, August and September |
| Svolvær | May, June, July, August and September |
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Oslo (Norway)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | -2 ° C | -1 ° C | 4 ° C | 10 ° C | 16 ° C | 20 ° C | 22 ° C | 21 ° C | 16 ° C | 9 ° C | 3 ° C | 0 ° C |
| Night temperature | -7 ° C | -7 ° C | -4 ° C | 1 ° C | 6 ° C | 10 ° C | 13 ° C | 12 ° C | 8 ° C | 3 ° C | -1 ° C | -4 ° C |
| Water temperature | 3 ° C | 2 ° C | 3 ° C | 5 ° C | 9 ° C | 13 ° C | 16 ° C | 17 ° C | 15 ° C | 11 ° C | 7 ° C | 5 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 49 | 36 | 46 | 42 | 52 | 65 | 84 | 90 | 90 | 84 | 75 | 56 |
| Rainy days | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Hours of sunshine | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Sunrise | 9:00 | 7:55 | 6:35 | 6:00 | 4:40 | 3:55 | 4:20 | 5:30 | 6:45 | 7:55 | 8:15 | 9:10 |
| Sunset | 15:50 | 17:05 | 18:15 | 20:30 | 21:45 | 22:40 | 22:25 | 21:15 | 19:40 | 18:10 | 15:50 | 15:10 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Oslo is 5.7 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (16.4 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of -4.3 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Oslo is 17 ° C. Pleasant bathing is possible from temperatures of around 21 ° C. August has a water temperature of at least 17 ° C. Bathing is then possible to a limited extent.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 769 mm on 113 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. In the months of January, February, March, April, October, November and December snowfall is possible.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, June is the sunniest month with an average of 8.3 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year the sun shines for 4.6 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Cities nearby
The following major towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Bærum.
Highlights and attractions
Norway’s fjords, for example the Geiranger Fjord in the mid-west, the Lysefjord in the south and the Tromso Fjord in the north, offer excellent nature experiences. Popular sights in Oslo include the Fram Museum, the Vigeland Museum and The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet. Besides Oslo, Bergen is a fascinating city, where the Hanseatic League and the historic buildings in the Bryggen district are popular attractions.
The Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg offers you a glimpse into the past. The phenomenon of the midnight sun can be enjoyed very well between the end of May and mid-July, especially in the small town of Hammerfest. The lookout rock offers a special adrenaline rush after the three-hour hike on the Pulpit Rock, the souvenir photos will make your loved ones catch their breath at home.
