In the north during the winter you may have only an hour of daylight which is called Polar Night. } }; Norway isn't generally thought of as a downhill destination, but its biggest resorts such as Hafjell, Trysil and Oppdal can be surprisingly quiet simply because of the locals' love of cross-country skiing! Inner Troms, the innermost part of Salten and Inner Helgeland also haS a typical inland climate with cold winters and stable, fine weather. Kristiansand (south): -4.5 to +2.5C. In most of America, a shitty winter is an annual tradition. If you've enjoyed this article and are thinking about a visit, why not share your plans on Pinterest? googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Language", "en"); In the cities a daily temperature of around freezing is common, but there are milder spells every year. Perhaps not as white and cold as you think! else if (width < 768) { Many people assume that since Tromso is so high up north, it must be super cold in the winter. … Along with January, December is the darkest time of the year but the streets are lit by candlelight, white festive lights, and Christmas markets. Those temperatures are very similar to our winter temperatures here in Toronto, Canada. Not only do all resorts – large and small – offer equipment hire and professional instruction, virtually any Norwegian you meet on the trails will be an expert and only too happy to help a bemused foreigner in need! Indeed, if you're from Minnesota or parts of Canada, the Norwegian version of the season may well be surprisingly mild compared to what you're used to. So what kind of clothes do I have to bring? However, because of the Gulf Stream, average temperatures in Norway (even in the north) rarely drop lower than -10C. After a good night's sleep, you should hopefully be … January to March tends to be the period with the most snowfall. "learnMore": "privacy & cookie policy. While the days are short in all of Norway during the winter months, the sun rises above the horizon (even if only for … Bergen (west): -0.5C to +5C. It is cold out. var child = document.getElementById("tipafriend-captcha"); In Norway, the area around Røros close to the Swedish border and the inland parts of Finnmark such as Kautokeino and Karasjok are normally the coldest regions. new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], Because Norway is positioned high in the Northern Hemisphere, it naturally has shorter and darker days during the winter. Although winters in the south and along the coastal areas can be very mild and rainy. Read more: 8 reasons to love winter in Norway. Everyone looks prettier when they’re cold. On slippery surfaces, sufficient traction can be ensured by using studded or non-studded winter tyres, snow chains or similar devices. Believe it or not, temperatures in Norway, even WAY up north, are not as extreme as many might believe. Ask them here: Help your kids adapt abroad + Parent tips. Having said that, parts of the region do get incredibly cold during the winter! window.cookieconsent_options = { googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/Sponsorship_200x50_NoAdsense', [200, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); Support Erasmus Bergen by following the website on Instagram ! While snow is absolutely normal at this time of year, it's not a guarantee. So, that's my whirlwind tour of what to expect from Norway in the winter. The exact dates vary depending on location, and sometimes some of the biggest ski resorts can stay open well into April. if (typeof(child) != 'undefined' && child != null) parent.removeChild(child); Daylight in Norway varies greatly depending on where you are and what time of year it is. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("JLCountry", "Norway"); Here a small Christmas market proves very popular every year, as does the free-to-use ice rink, for which skates can be rented on site if you don't have your own. To experience the silent and serene fjords, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, come during winter. Inner Troms, the innermost part of Salten and Inner Helgeland also haS a typical inland climate with cold winters and stable, fine weather. Hopping on a ferry ride at Geiranger is one of the best things you … Norwegians out on the trails transform from shy introverts to the most friendly outgoing people you'll ever meet. This is called the midnight sun. Shocking Landslide Near Oslo Destroys Homes, Wizz Air Threatens Legal Action Over Norway Boycotts, Coronavirus in Norway: The Latest News on the COVID-19 Outbreak. I get emails from people who rally want to see the fjords during the winter. In the cold of a Norwegian winter, life goes on. Road closures include many of Norway's popular National Scenic Routes, including Trollstigen, Gamle Strynefjellsvegen and the Sognefjellet mountain road. In Norway, that means that this phenomenon only occurs in the northern regions. ... Hygge is the antidote for the cold winter, the rainy days, and the duvet … So, every year is different my friends. That said, for most people moving here the winter is going to much colder than you expect. In the south of Norway summer may last a little longer than in the north. In Norway the pastime is a … W hen Kari Leibowitz first arrived in the Norwegian city of Tromsø, she was both intrigued by, and fearful of, the approaching winter. During the dark season in Oslo, the daylight length is about eight hours but practically, the ‘working’ light is from 10AM to 3PM, dramatically making the day feel shorter. ... Hygge is the antidote for the cold winter, the rainy days, and the duvet … You need energy to fight the cold and be strong during the winter. It can get awfully cold in Iceland, as one would expect given the name of the country. Norwegian driving rules state that the driver must assess whether their vehicle has sufficient grip on the road surface. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/MPU1_300x250', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-3').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); Based in Trondheim, we are Norway's English language publishing company. The snow covered mountains and the ice glaciers are a breathtaking sight to see. Unlike many other places in Norway, Oslo remains well and truly “open for business” from a tourism perspective. googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; Many people planning a visit contact me to ask how cold is the winter in Norway. Further to the north, we find the Svalbard archipelago, which is the northernmost part of Because of the warm air that is carried in by the Gulf Stream, Norway is able to enjoy a warmer than average climate. I can't understate how much snow brightens things up here in Trondheim! else if ((width < 1200) && (width >= 768)) { '&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= Winters in the north along the midland can be very dark and snowy. According to the viborc , the lowest temperature recorded in Latvia is -43.2 °C. It depends on your location in Iceland. I've written before about how I perceive there to be five seasons in Norway, with winter very much split into ‘the wet one' and ‘the white one'. } During the dark season in Oslo, the daylight length is about eight hours but practically, the ‘working’ light is from 10AM to 3PM, dramatically making the day feel shorter. One popular spot is the market at Spikersuppa, the open area between Karl Johans gate, the Norwegian Parliament building, and the National Theatre. Norway’s obsession with pølse started in the 1950s and is still going strong. "link": "https://www.justlanded.com/english/Common/Footer/Terms-Conditions/How-we-secure-your-personal-data-at-Just-Landed", But still, the answer to the question is: it depends. } Polar vortex enters the lexicon. Lips, noses, and cheeks get chapped and raw. The summer in Norway can be very warm with temperatures reaching 30º celsius. The average winter temperature is around -2 ° C (28 ° F), but during my visit the … googletag.pubads().setTargeting("App", "www"); April and May are still freezing months, but with 24 hours of daylight, they are very different from the dark winter months. Swimming is a common pastime along the coastlines all throughout Norway. The long Norwegian coastline reaps the benefits of the ocean currents throughout the year, which have a warming effect in the winter. Some areas are colder than others. }); The nights are drawing in (fast), the temperatures are plummeting, and the Marius sweaters are everywhere. (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': The temperatures can range from -25°C (-13°F) up to 8°C (46°F) in winter. document.getElementById('thankyou').className='msg hidden'; } var width = window.innerWidth || document.documentElement.clientWidth; Trondheim (central): -4C to +1C. When it is cold outside it is not really the time to get on a diet by lowering your calorie intake. Northern Norway is also a great place to visit any time of year. Inland is where the real cold is. You can also share your testimonial about your experience in Norway or … var googletag = googletag || {}; Even when roads are open, conditions can be precarious, especially if you're not used to driving in snow and on icy roads. Some years we haven't seen any snow at all until January. Snow and sub-zero conditions, surely? In the case of Sweden, this means the majority of the central and northern parts of the country. Today, it's time to explore more of Oslo. "message": "We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Spring in Norway occurs quite rapidly. Not necessarily! "target": "_blank", The temperatures can range from -25 ° C (-13 ° F) up to 8 ° C (46 ° F) in winter. Norway, the northernmost Scandinavian country, experiences an average of four hours of light per day during the winter. Winter doesn’t just turn on and off, so some months are better than others. But in Norway, I learned to look for the opportunities winter provides. Experience the northern lights. Don’t start a diet in winter. I can barely deal with a week of cold rain, let alone months of frigid snow and darkness, so how do Scandinavians survive the winter without falling … The Polar Night is a phenomenon that happens inside the Polar Circle. To read more about the cookies we use and to change your settings see our", Do you have any comments, updates or questions on this topic? But not necessarily snow! However, Tromsø is located by the coast, which means that it has a surprisingly mild climate. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/Mobile_Leaderboard', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-6').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); ", Temperatures here can drop below -30°C several times during the winter, and can remain below freezing for weeks or even months at a time. If these temperatures don't seem very low to you, that's because the coldest temperatures tend to be experienced throughout the country between mid-January and March. Here are the sort of temperatures you can expect in various cities around the country during the month of December, based on a long-term average range of the average temperature: Oslo (south-east): -5C to +2C. The average temperature in the northern Lofoten islands rarely dips below freezing, despite having the same latitude as northern Canada. Go on a Ferry ride at Geiranger. I know a lot of people are fans of hot vacations, but they … Around Oslo, snowfall is common and the average temperatures are just below zero. While I understand that (they are a truly spectacular sight when covered in snow), there is a reason you don't see too many white-dusted photos of the fjords: It's hard to get there with many mountain passes closed, and accommodation options are few and far between. The winter in Norway is usually very white for the most part of Norway and occurs during the months of December, January, and February. "theme": "light-top" In mainland Norway, as mentioned, the cold record is -51 °C (-60 °F) in Lapland, while it is -46 °C (-51 °F) in Roros, in the cold part of the center, -35 °C (-31 °F) north of Oslo, -26 °C (-15 °F) in Trondheim and Oslo, -25 °C (-13 °F) on the Skagerrak coast to the south (see Mandal, Kristiansand), -19.5 °C (-3 °F) in Bergen, and only -10 °C (14 °F) in Røstlandet, in southern Lofoten. The temperatures in Oslo in December are significantly low averaging -2°C (28°F) and when the sun does come out, it will be only for one hour. In the summer you can have up to 24 hours of sunlight a day. During these months the temperatures of the land will be lower than the temperatures of the sea so many activities like water rafting and kayaking are practiced by the locals. Many tourists would trade anything just to get to see the northern … Bærums Verk runs a Christmas market including craft stalls and reindeer sled rides for the kids, while several other festive markets spring up around the capital's streets. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/Ribbon_990x45_NoAdsense', [990, 45], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-2').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); W hen Kari Leibowitz first arrived in the Norwegian city of Tromsø, she was both intrigued by, and fearful of, the approaching winter. The combination of natural waterfalls and blooming flowers is beautiful to see. But there is a fast descent from the short autumn season into the dark, wet and windy days of the early winter, which tends to run through until Christmas. On the flip side, this is also easily the coldest time of the year. Many parts of Norway and Sweden are guaranteed snow for months every year, most notably the areas farthest from the coast. googletag.cmd.push(function() { The winter in Norway is usually very white for the most part of Norway and occurs during … All the Canadians I met laughed at the “cold” winter weather in Bergen as temperatures in Norway are much milder. Each year in Trondheim the temperature dips below -10C a handful of times, and maybe gets as low as -20C once a year. While the days are short in all of Norway during the winter months, the sun rises above the horizon (even if only for a few hours) so it doesn't qualify as a Polar Night. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/MPU2_300x250', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-4').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); And that even applies to Northern Norway – Tromsø’s winter temperature’s often hover around zero. if (width >= 1200) { We've got just the pin for that: Life in Norway’s Most Popular Articles in 2020, Norwegian Christmas Music: Songs for the Season. Take care, and perhaps consider a different time of year for your epic road trip. Considered as the world’s largest sculpture park, Vigeland … This of course isn't a scientific definition! Latvia winters are relatively cold and gray with frequent snowfalls mostly seen in the winter season. Winter. In Norway the pastime is a … googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); At the time of writing, it's the 6th of November and we are snowless so far, although the white stuff has fallen down in the capital. Autumn in Norway usually occurs in during the months of September, October, and November. April and May are still freezing months, but with 24 hours of daylight, they are very different from the dark winter months. Winter is long (going from October to May) and freezing, with frequent snowfalls, usually in the form of light snow. ... cross-country skiing is a great way to make the most of the winter season. Winter is long (going from October to May) and freezing, with frequent snowfalls, usually in the form of light snow. In spring, the snow melts, there's a lot of sunlight and temperatures quickly rise, … One thing to watch out for when driving during this time of year is road closures. It's the time of year with the most rainfall, but temperatures tend to remain above freezing. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of cookies. In autumn the leaves start to turn many different colors and eventually fall. The run-up to the festive period is a popular time to visit Norway and I get emails from many people asking specifically about this time of year. // ]]> Typically in Trondheim we expect snow from around mid-November or early December through to Easter, but there are many, many days without snowfall, of course! It all depends on the snowfall. The coldest temperature I've personally experienced in Norway was -23C in Oslo, but it can get significantly colder than that away from the coastline in places such as Røros and on the Finnmark mountain plateau in northern Norway. The inland areas experience very cold temperatures, sometimes lower than -40°C. What is a Norwegian winter really like? If you want to see snow and experience some really cold temperatures, you’re best off heading inland and/or up into the mountains. A common misconception is how cold it gets during winter in Norway. "dismiss": "Got it! In fact, Arctic cities like Tromso average temperatures around -1°C and -5°C (30-23°F). if (typeof(child) != 'undefined' && child != null) parent.removeChild(child); The Finnmark plain is the coldest part of mainland Norway, and the coldest temperature ever recorded in Karasjok is -51 o C (-60 o F). Once New Year is done and dusted, the days start to get longer once again and the likelihood of snow is much greater. Although grilled sausages are mostly a summer staple (and, of course, you can enjoy a hot dog, called ‘pølse med lompe’, any time of the year), winter calls for a heavier approach. Scandinavia in the winter. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("Channel", "Travel"); Might be cold coming from Australian summer though, haha. Winter in Tromso is considered from December until late March. ", Norway in winter time. function hide_thankyou () { googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/Mobile_Leaderboard', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-6').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); 6. In the south the hours of daylight become a little more constant with the summer having about 16 hours of daylight and in the winter having about 6. })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MQS989'); Whether migrating permanently or just visiting Norway, understanding the climate is extremely important. Summer tyres should not be used in winter conditions, when the tread depth must be a minimum of 3mm (compared to 1.6mm normally). In Norway, that means that this phenomenon only occurs in the northern regions. We often meet on Skype and she often complains about the cold winter. If renting a vehicle during the winter months it should be supplied fully ready to cope with the conditions, but check in advance if you are unsure. var child = document.getElementById("recaptcha_error"); Of course, December to March is prime ski season! Depending on where you live snow can fall as early as September and as late as May. During the months of March, April, and May, temperature changes cause the snow and ice to melt creating natural waterfalls. The answer again, of course, is that it depends! The lower inland areas of Finnmark, Troms, Trøndelag, and Eastern Norway can have very cold winters with lots of When we chased Northern Lights in Yellowknife Canada, we had to be ready for temperatures of – 40C. Here are the sort of temperatures you can expect in various cities around the country during the month of December, based on a long-term average range of the average temperature: Remember this is statistics, so the actual temperature on any one day can be considerably colder! The average rainfall is 63mm with a relative humidity of 86%.There is much snow at this time and nights are freezing. googletag.enableServices(); In the cold of a Norwegian winter, life goes on. Bergen is on the mild west coast of Norway, which means slightly unstable and wet weather. While the coast enjoys a milder climate, it can get very cold in some of the inland areas during winter. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/MPU1_300x250', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-3').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); If you want to learn cross-country skiing there is no better place. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/MPU4_300x250', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-8').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); Norway, the northernmost Scandinavian country, experiences an average of four hours of light per day during the winter. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/MPU3_300x250', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-5').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); The coldest months of the country are January and February where the average temperature lies between -4.6 and -4.7°C. However, this does not impede on the events and festivals planned for the month. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? If you're planning a trip, enjoy yourselves and take care! Spring in Norway. The lowest temperature ever measured in Norway is -51,4 °C, recorded on January 1st 1886 at Karasjok on the Finnmark Plateau. Inland is where the real cold is. Words of Norway tells the stories of Norway to the world, and helps Norwegian companies do the same. The Finnmark plain is the coldest part of mainland Norway, and the coldest temperature ever recorded in Karasjok is -51 o C (-60 o F). Visit Vigeland Park in Oslo, Norway. It depends on what month it is. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("URL", "Climate-in-Norway"); Sounds cold, doesn’t it? Winter in Norway is like a set from “Frozen” Did you know that Disney’s Frozen was inspired by the … Black ice kills. Since the variation is so great, a good place to start planning your outfits is a Norwegian weather forecast website such as yr.no. But in Norway, I learned to look for the opportunities winter provides. Pipes freeze. The lowest temperature recorded in Norway was -51.4°c on New Year’s Day in 1886. Home » Living in Norway » Norway in the Winter. Yep, it's that time of the year again. I can barely deal with a week of cold rain, let alone months of frigid snow and darkness, so how do Scandinavians survive the winter without falling … In winter, the average temperature in Norway is -6.8 degrees Celsius, but the conditions may vary quite a lot. [CDATA[ Norway shares its border with some of the colest countries in the world like Finland, Russia, and Sweden. My sister lives a bit east of Quebec in Canada. googletag.defineSlot('/1015136/MPU2_300x250', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1319640445841-4').setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); Oslo. Norway isn’t really that cold in the winter unless you go far inland or up into the mountains, since the coast is along the Gulf Stream, which keeps temperatures warmer. However, Tromsø is located by the coast, which means that it has a surprisingly mild climate. The climate in Norway is much warmer than what you would expect. //