Climate - Rovaniemi (Finland)

The climate of Rovaniemi, the capital of the Lapland province, is cold continental, with freezing winters and mild summers.
The city is located just south of the Polar Circle, but due to atmospheric refraction, the midnight sun can be seen here as well, from 7 June to 6 July. 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 21th, and until August 23rd.
In December, you can see the sun on the horizon for just over two hours. To observe the polar night, in which the sun does not rise, it is necessary to go further north of about 100 km (60 mi), for example, in Sodankylä, on the days of the winter solstice (December 21st).
Snow generally covers the ground from mid-October to April, with a maximum of 75 cm (29.5 in) in March.
In winter, there can be cold spells of arctic origin. The coldest record is -47.5 °C (-53.5 °F) and was set in January 1999.
In summer, there can be short hot periods. The highest record is 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) and was set in June 2011 and in July 2018.

Best Time

The best time to visit Rovaniemi is the summer, from June to August, since it is the mildest season. However, you must take into account some rainy days and a bit of cold at night.

Rovaniemi - Climate data

In Rovaniemi, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -12.2 °C (10.0 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Rovaniemi, precipitation amounts to 555 millimeters (21.9 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 30 mm (1.2 in) in the driest months (February, March, April) to 75 mm (3 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
In Rovaniemi, there are on average around 1550 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Rovaniemi - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.2 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -17 °C (1.3 °F) and a maximum of -7.4 °C (18.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -34.5 °C (-29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -47.5 °C (-53.5 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it reached 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 11% of the time.
The average humidity is 90%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In February, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.1 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -17.2 °C (1.1 °F) and a maximum of -7 °C (19.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -34.5 °C (-29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -42.6 °C (-44.7 °F) in February 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it reached 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In March, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -7.0 °C (19 °F), with a minimum of -12.9 °C (8.8 °F) and a maximum of -1.1 °C (29.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29.5 °C (-21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -38.8 °C (-37.8 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it reached 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) in March 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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In April, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) and a maximum of 4.6 °C (40.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18.5 °C (-1.5 °F). However, it dropped to -28.4 °C (-19.1 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 17.2 °C (63 °F) in April 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In May, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.4 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.1 °F) and a maximum of 11.6 °C (52.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.1 °C (15.6 °F) in May 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In June, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.1 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.2 °C (63 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.7 °C (27.1 °F) in June 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.4 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In August, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8 °C (46.4 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 29.2 °C (84.6 °F) in August 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In September, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.7 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 11.7 °C (53.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -8.8 °C (16.2 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in September 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In October, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.7 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -2.2 °C (28 °F) and a maximum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14 °C (7 °F). However, it dropped to -28.1 °C (-18.6 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it reached 14 °C (57.2 °F) in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 92%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In November, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -4.9 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -8 °C (17.6 °F) and a maximum of -1.8 °C (28.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21.5 °C (-7 °F). However, it dropped to -34.4 °C (-29.9 °F) in November 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it reached 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 11% of the time.
The average humidity is 94%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In December, the weather in Rovaniemi is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -9.2 °C (15 °F), with a minimum of -13.4 °C (7.8 °F) and a maximum of -5 °C (22.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29.5 °C (-21 °F). However, it dropped to -39.3 °C (-38.7 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it reached 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 4% of the time.
The average humidity is 92%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).