Climate - Sodankylä (Finland)

The climate of Sodankylä is cold continental, with freezing winters and mild summers.
The town is located in northern Finland, in Lapland.
The latitude (67° 25' N) shows that we are just north of the Polar Circle. The midnight sun can be observed from May 31 to July 14. 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 18, and until August 26.
On the other hand, the sun does not rise (polar night) for a short time, from 20 to 23 December.
In winter, there can be cold spells of arctic origin. The coldest record is -49.5 °C (-57.1 °F) and was set in January 1999. We are in one of the coldest places in Finland.
In summer, there can be short hot periods. The highest record is 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) and was set in July 2018.

Best Time

The best time to visit Sodankylä 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.

Sodankylä - Climate data

In Sodankylä, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -12.8 °C (9.0 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Sodankylä, precipitation amounts to 545 millimeters (21.5 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 Sodankylä, there are on average around 1545 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Sodankylä - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Sodankylä is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.8 °C (9 °F), with a minimum of -17.4 °C (0.6 °F) and a maximum of -8.2 °C (17.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -34.5 °C (-30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -49.5 °C (-57.1 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it reached 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are very short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 10% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In February, the weather in Sodankylä is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.4 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -17.2 °C (1 °F) and a maximum of -7.6 °C (18.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -34 °C (-29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -42.1 °C (-43.8 °F) in February 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2 °C (35 °F). However, it reached 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) in February 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In March, the weather in Sodankylä is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -7.4 °C (19 °F), with a minimum of -13 °C (8.7 °F) and a maximum of -1.8 °C (28.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29.5 °C (-21 °F). However, it dropped to -36.3 °C (-33.3 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it reached 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) in March 2007.
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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In April, the weather in Sodankylä is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -1.0 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -6 °C (21.1 °F) and a maximum of 4 °C (39.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -20 °C (-4 °F). However, it dropped to -29.2 °C (-20.6 °F) in April 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it reached 17.2 °C (63 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In May, the weather in Sodankylä is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 0.7 °C (33.2 °F) and a maximum of 10.6 °C (51 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -12.7 °C (9.1 °F) in May 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 28.1 °C (82.6 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In June, the weather in Sodankylä is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.8 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 16.7 °C (62.1 °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 -3.7 °C (25.3 °F) in June 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Sodankylä is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.1 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10 °C (50.1 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.1 °C (34 °F) in July 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 20 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 9 kph (5 mph).

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In August, the weather in Sodankylä is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.5 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 17.3 °C (63.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -2.7 °C (27.1 °F) in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In September, the weather in Sodankylä is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.2 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 3.2 °C (37.8 °F) and a maximum of 11 °C (51.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.6 °C (16.5 °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 °F). However, it reached 23.5 °C (74.3 °F) in September 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (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 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In October, the weather in Sodankylä is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.1 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -2.9 °C (26.8 °F) and a maximum of 2.8 °C (37 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -15 °C (5 °F). However, it dropped to -27.3 °C (-17.1 °F) in October 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it reached 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) in October 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In November, the weather in Sodankylä is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -6.2 °C (21 °F), with a minimum of -9.4 °C (15 °F) and a maximum of -2.9 °C (26.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -23.5 °C (-10.5 °F). However, it dropped to -35.5 °C (-31.9 °F) in November 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it reached 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 14% of the time.
The average humidity is 91%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In December, the weather in Sodankylä is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -10.0 °C (14 °F), with a minimum of -14.2 °C (6.3 °F) and a maximum of -5.8 °C (21.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -30 °C (-21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -37.5 °C (-35.5 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2 °C (36 °F). However, it reached 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 1 hours and 20 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 2% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).