Climate - Andenes (Norway)

The climate of Andenes is subpolar oceanic, with cold winters and very cool summers.
It is true that the climate is very mild for the latitude, however, the winter is long (in March, the temperatures are the same as in January, and in April, it can still snow and freeze), moreover, the wind blows often, and sometimes it can be stormy.
The village is located at the northern tip of the island of Andøya, which belongs to the Vesteralen archipelago, at the 69th parallel, thefefore, to the north of the Arctic Circle.
In fact, the sun does not rise (polar night) from November 30th to January 12th, and does not set (midnight sun) from May 21st to July 24th. The white nights, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur by April 13th and until August 31st.
The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of -1.9 °C (29 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 11.5 °C (53 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,120 millimeters (44.1 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 55 mm (2.2 in) in the driest month (June) to 145 mm (5.7 in) in the wettest (October). Here is the average precipitation.

In winter, there are quite mild periods, in which the temperature is just above freezing, and rain falls, or rain mixed with snow.
However, there are also cold periods, more or less long depending on the winter, in which the temperature drops below freezing and stays below even during the day.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature generally drops to -11/-12 °C (10/12 °F), although it can drop to lower values from time to time.
In 1981, it dropped to -20 °C (-4 °F) in both January and March, while in 1980, it dropped to -18.5 °C (-1.5 °F) in February and to -17.5 °C (0.5 °F) in December. Later, it dropped to -18 °C (-0.5 °F) in January 1986, and to -17 °C (1.5 °F) in February 1985 and in February 1987.

The summer in fact is reduced to the months of July and August, and is very cool, with frequent rains. Sometimes, it can get quite cold even in these months, with highs of 10/12 °C (50/54 °F).
There are also pleasant periods, which last a few days, in which the temperature reaches 20/22 °C (68/72 °F). More rarely, and not every year, there may be short warmer periods, in which the temperature exceeds 25 °C (77 °F). In July 1972 and July 2018, it reached 27.5 °C (81.5).



The sea temperature ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 12 °C (54 °F). So, it is cold all year round, although in winter, it is free from ice thanks to the Gulf Stream. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Andenes 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. Therefore, it is advisable to bring a jacket and a sweater even in the height of summer.