Climate - Kilpisjärvi (Finland)

The climate of Kilpisjärvi is subarctic, with freezing winters and cool summers.
The village is at 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, in the extreme north-west of Finland, near the border with Sweden and Norway, and close to Lake Kilpisjärvi and Mount Saana. Not far away is Mount Halti, the highest in Finland with its 1,365 meters or 4,478 feet (although the peak is in Norway).
Given the location and altitude, we are in one of the snowiest places in Finland. Snow covers the ground from October to May, and reaches its maximum height (about 90 cm or 35 in) in March and April.
Since we are at the 69th parallel, so north of the Polar Circle, the sun does not rise (polar night) from December 1st to January 11th, while the midnight sun can be seen from May 22nd to July 23rd. The white nights, when the sun sets but it doesn't get completely dark even at midnight, occur before and after the period of the midnight sun, ie from April 14th, and until August 30th.
In winter, there can be cold spells of arctic origin. The coldest record is -47.2 °C (-53 °F) and was set in February 1966.
In summer, due to the altitude and the proximity of the lake, it doesn't get as hot as in other areas of Lapland. The highest record is 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) and was set in August 1959.

Best Time

The best time to visit Kilpisjärvi is the summer, in July and August, since they are the mildest months. However, you must take into account some rainy days and a bit of cold at night.

Kilpisjärvi - Climate data

In Kilpisjärvi, the average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of -12.6 °C (9.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 12.1 °C (53.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Kilpisjärvi, precipitation amounts to 520 millimeters (20.5 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 30 mm (1.2 in) in the driest months (April, May) to 70 mm (2.8 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.

Kilpisjärvi - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.5 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -17.3 °C (0.9 °F) and a maximum of -7.7 °C (18.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -33 °C (-27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -39.2 °C (-38.6 °F) in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2 °C (36 °F). However, it reached 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in January 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very short.

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In February, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.6 °C (9 °F), with a minimum of -17.4 °C (0.7 °F) and a maximum of -7.9 °C (17.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -32 °C (-26 °F). However, it dropped to -41 °C (-41.8 °F) in February 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2 °C (36 °F). However, it reached 6.1 °C (43 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.

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In March, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -9.1 °C (16 °F), with a minimum of -14.1 °C (6.7 °F) and a maximum of -4.2 °C (24.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -29 °C (-20.5 °F). However, it dropped to -37.7 °C (-35.9 °F) in March 2006.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it reached 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.

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In April, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -3.7 °C (25 °F), with a minimum of -8.3 °C (17 °F) and a maximum of 1 °C (33.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -23 °C (-9 °F). However, it dropped to -31 °C (-23.8 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it reached 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes.

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In May, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.5 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -1.4 °C (29.6 °F) and a maximum of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -22 °C (-7.6 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 26.1 °C (79 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very long.

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In June, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.0 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) and a maximum of 12.1 °C (53.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) in June 2001.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always above the horizon.

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.1 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F) and a maximum of 16.3 °C (61.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.

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In August, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.5 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.9 °C (28.6 °F) in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very long.

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In September, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.0 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2.8 °C (37.1 °F) and a maximum of 9.1 °C (48.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.6 °C (18.3 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 20.2 °C (68.4 °F) in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.

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In October, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.6 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -3.1 °C (26.5 °F) and a maximum of 2 °C (35.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (11 °F). However, it dropped to -24 °C (-11.2 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it reached 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.

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In November, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -6.8 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -10.2 °C (13.6 °F) and a maximum of -3.4 °C (25.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -22.5 °C (-9 °F). However, it dropped to -34.6 °C (-30.3 °F) in November 1995.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it reached 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in November 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.

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In December, the weather in Kilpisjärvi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -10.4 °C (13 °F), with a minimum of -14.9 °C (5.1 °F) and a maximum of -5.9 °C (21.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29.5 °C (-21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -38.4 °C (-37.1 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it reached 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.