The Climate in Norway
Given Norway’s extreme northerly position, its mainland climate is
surprisingly mild.
Norway is the northernmost country in the world to have open waters. This
is due to the trade winds forced across the Atlantic Ocean by the American
continent and the warm currents flowing north from the Equator towards the
Norwegian Sea, where the angle of the Norwegian coastline and an open path
to the Arctic Ocean help to guide the temperate air and waters to a more
northerly latitude.
Norway’s climate fluctuates greatly from year to year, especially in its
most northern parts, which are located at the edge of the global temperate
zone. The lowest minimum temperature recorded is -51°C in
Kárášjohka-Karasjok in northern Norway. The average annual temperature
swings from some 8°C along the western coast to below freezing in the
mountains. The coldest months of the year are January and February and the
warmest time in the inland areas is mid-July, while the coastal and
mountains regions may reach their peaks somewhat later.
The climate in Norway differs from that of the rest of Scandinavia. The
high mountain ranges dividing mainland Norway provide protection from
precipitation to large areas of inland eastern Norway, giving this area a
more continental climate than would be expected in light of its proximity to
the coast. Some of these areas east of the mountains have an annual rainfall
of less than 300 mm. Most of the precipitation from the sea falls along the
west coast of Norway, with some areas recording a maximum rainfall of 3000
mm annually.
The most important agricultural areas have an annual rainfall of between
500 and 1000 mm, with most rain falling in July and August. There are about
100 rainy days in inland Norway and some 150-200 rainy days on the coast.
The strength and direction of the wind in Norway varies greatly as a result
of fast-moving pressure fronts, and the winds along the coast and in the
mountains are often quite strong.
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