Weather and climate in Alta (Norway)

The climate of Alta is subarctic, with very cold winters and cool summers.
The city is located on the northern Norwegian coast, but within a fjord, furthermore, the mountains to the west and north partially protect it from ocean currents, making it more continental and arid than cities like Hammerfest and Tromsø or the North Cape.
Since we are at the 69th parallel, therefore north of the Polar Circle, the sun does not rise (polar night) from November 26th to January 16th. Alta is called the "city of the northern lights", because it has a relatively dry climate compared to the western coast of Norway, but less cold than in the inland areas of Finnmark. Therefore, in the long winter nights, it is relatively easier to observe the northern lights.
Also due to the high latitude, the sun does not set (midnight sun) from May 18th to July 27th. The white nights, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur as early as April 11th and until September 1st.

The winter is very cold, with fairly frequent snowfalls, although generally not abundant. The temperature is normally below freezing even during the day, however, in some periods, it can rise a few degrees above, even up to 7/8 °C (45/46 °F).
However, there are also times when the temperature drops several degrees below freezing. On the coldest nights, it drops below -20 °C (-4 °F) every year. The coldest record is -32 °C (-25.5 °F) and was set in January 1999.
Also, the winter is long. In 2013, the temperature dropped to -25 °C (-13 °F) in March and to -16 °C (3 °F) in April.

The summer is cool, with quite frequent rains. There are also cold days, with highs around 10 °C (50 °F). At night, the temperature can drop to as low as 0 °C (32 °F) in June, and to 5 °C (41 °F) from July to mid-August.
However, there may also be pleasant periods, generally of short duration, with highs of 20/22 °C (68/72 °F).
On the warmest days of the year, the temperature can reach 26/27 °C (79/81 °F). The old record, 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) of July 1972, was broken in July 2018 with 33 °C (91.5 °F). In July 1999, there were three days of Mediterranean heat, with a maximum of 29/31 °C (84/88 °F) and a minimum of 18/21 °C (64.5/70 °F).

Best Time

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

Alta - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of -7.0 °C (19.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 440 millimeters (17.3 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 25 mm (1 in) in the driest months (April, May) to 50 mm (2 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
The sea temperature ranges from 4 °C (39 °F) in March, April to 10.5 °C (51 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Alta - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -6.8 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -10.2 °C (13.6 °F) and a maximum of -3.3 °C (26 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21 °C (-6 °F). However, it dropped to -32.1 °C (-25.8 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it reached 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) in January 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 1 hour and 35 minutes. So the days are very short.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 5 °C (41 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7.0 °C (19 °F), with a minimum of -10.3 °C (13.4 °F) and a maximum of -3.6 °C (25.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -20.5 °C (-5 °F). However, it dropped to -28.7 °C (-19.7 °F) in February 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it reached 12 °C (53.6 °F) in February 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 4.5 °C (40 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -3.9 °C (25 °F), with a minimum of -7.4 °C (18.8 °F) and a maximum of -0.4 °C (31.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -17 °C (1.5 °F). However, it dropped to -25 °C (-13 °F) in March 2013.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it reached 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 4 °C (39.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.5 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -2.8 °C (27 °F) and a maximum of 3.8 °C (38.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (10.5 °F). However, it dropped to -18.3 °C (-0.9 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it reached 16 °C (60.8 °F) in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 4 °C (39.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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May is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.7 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) and a maximum of 8.9 °C (48 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -9 °C (15.8 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 5 °C (41.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.5 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.2 °F) and a maximum of 13.7 °C (56.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in June 2019.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in June 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (44.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.3 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 10.9 °C (51.7 °F) and a maximum of 17.6 °C (63.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) in July 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) and a maximum of 16 °C (60.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 31.8 °C (89.2 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 10.5 °C (51 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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September is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 5.6 °C (42 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in September 2014.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in September 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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October is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.4 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -0.2 °C (31.7 °F) and a maximum of 4.9 °C (40.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -17.2 °C (1 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8 °C (46 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2.7 °C (27 °F), with a minimum of -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) and a maximum of 0.1 °C (32.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -14.5 °C (6 °F). However, it dropped to -22.8 °C (-9 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it reached 12 °C (53.6 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very short.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6.5 °C (44 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -4.8 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -8 °C (17.5 °F) and a maximum of -1.6 °C (29.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C (0 °F). However, it dropped to -24 °C (-11.2 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it reached 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) in December 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.