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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Harstad is is
subpolar oceanic, with cold winters and very cool summers.
The city, once called Trondenes, has 23,000 inhabitants and is the second largest city in Troms County (which in 2020 was administratively unified with Finnmark) after
Tromsø. It is located in northwestern Norway. We are on the island of Hinnøya (a large island, the western part of which is part of the Vesterålen and the southwestern part of the Lofoten).
The climate is very mild for the latitude, even though the city is not directly exposed to the Norwegian Sea, but is located on the east coast of the island.
Since we are at the 68th parallel, therefore north of the Polar Circle, the
sun does not rise (polar night) from December 3rd to January 9th, and does not set (midnight sun) from May 22nd to July 21st. The
white nights, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur as early as April 14th and until August 29th.
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. These periods are usually dry, as currents from the east prevail, however, it can sometimes snow.
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 the period 2003-2020, it dropped to -15.5 °C (4 °F) in January 2016 and to -16 °C (3 °F) in February 2010.
In
summer, daytime temperatures generally stay below 20 °C (68 °F), but sometimes there can be warm periods, in which they reach 25 °C (77 °F). In July 2014, it reached 31.7 °C (89 °F), and fluctuated around 27/28 °C (81/82 °F) for another four days, while between the end of July and the beginning of August 2018, there was an even warmer period, with a maximum of 31.5 °C (88.7 °F), and another four days between 28 and 31 °C (82 and 88 °F).
Best Time
The best time to visit Harstad 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.
Harstad - Climate data
In Harstad, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of
-2.4 °C, that of the warmest month (July) is of
14 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Harstad - Average temperatures (2003-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -4.8 | 0 | -2.4 |
|---|
| February | -4.4 | 0.4 | -2 |
|---|
| March | -3.4 | 2.1 | -0.6 |
|---|
| April | -0.2 | 5.9 | 2.8 |
|---|
| May | 3.9 | 10.5 | 7.2 |
|---|
| June | 7.3 | 13.7 | 10.5 |
|---|
| July | 10.4 | 17.5 | 14 |
|---|
| August | 9.8 | 16.2 | 13 |
|---|
| September | 6.5 | 12.3 | 9.4 |
|---|
| October | 2.3 | 6.9 | 4.6 |
|---|
| November | -0.7 | 3.7 | 1.5 |
|---|
| December | -2.7 | 1.8 | -0.4 |
|---|
| Year | 2 | 7.6 | 4.8 |
|---|
amounts to
850 millimeters per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from
35 millimeters in the driest month (May) to
105 millimeters in the wettest one (March). Here is the average precipitation.
Harstad - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 80 | 12 |
|---|
| February | 85 | 12 |
|---|
| March | 105 | 15 |
|---|
| April | 55 | 12 |
|---|
| May | 35 | 8 |
|---|
| June | 45 | 10 |
|---|
| July | 55 | 9 |
|---|
| August | 50 | 10 |
|---|
| September | 80 | 13 |
|---|
| October | 85 | 14 |
|---|
| November | 80 | 13 |
|---|
| December | 95 | 14 |
|---|
| Year | 850 | 140 |
|---|
The
sea temperature ranges from
4 °C in March, April to
12 °C in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Harstad - Sea temperature| Month |
|---|
| January | 55 |
|---|
| February | 4.5 |
|---|
| March | 4 |
|---|
| April | 4 |
|---|
| May | 5.5 |
|---|
| June | 8.5 |
|---|
| July | 11 |
|---|
| August | 12 |
|---|
| September | 10.5 |
|---|
| October | 9 |
|---|
| November | 7.5"> |
|---|
| December | 6 |
|---|
| Year | 7.3 |
|---|
Harstad - Weather by month
Based on the period 2003-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.4 °C, with a minimum of
-4.8 °C and a maximum of
0 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.4 °C in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6.5 °C. However, it reached
8.8 °C in January 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very short.
The average sea temperature is of
5.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2 °C, with a minimum of -4.4 °C and a maximum of 0.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °C. However, it dropped to -16.1 °C in February 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7 °C. However, it reached 8.6 °C in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are short.
The average sea temperature is of 4.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.6 °C, with a minimum of -3.4 °C and a maximum of 2.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C. However, it dropped to -13.3 °C in March 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7.5 °C. However, it reached 10.9 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.8 °C, with a minimum of -0.2 °C and a maximum of 5.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C. However, it dropped to -9.4 °C in April 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C. However, it reached 16.9 °C in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 4.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.2 °C, with a minimum of 3.9 °C and a maximum of 10.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C. However, it dropped to -3.7 °C in May 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C. However, it reached 23.9 °C in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average sea temperature is of 5.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.5 °C, with a minimum of 7.3 °C and a maximum of 13.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C. However, it dropped to 0.9 °C in June 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C. However, it reached 26.8 °C in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
The average sea temperature is of 8.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14 °C, with a minimum of 10.4 °C and a maximum of 17.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C. However, it dropped to 4.6 °C in July 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C. However, it reached 31.7 °C in July 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average sea temperature is of 10.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13 °C, with a minimum of 9.8 °C and a maximum of 16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C. However, it dropped to 1.7 °C in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C. However, it reached 31.5 °C in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average sea temperature is of 12 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.4 °C, with a minimum of 6.5 °C and a maximum of 12.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C. However, it dropped to -1.6 °C in September 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C. However, it reached 21.9 °C in September 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 10.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.6 °C, with a minimum of 2.3 °C and a maximum of 6.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C. However, it dropped to -7.9 °C in October 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C. However, it reached 17.5 °C in October 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 8.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.5 °C, with a minimum of -0.7 °C and a maximum of 3.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C. However, it dropped to -10.3 °C in November 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9.5 °C. However, it reached 13.8 °C in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are short.
The average sea temperature is of 7.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C, with a minimum of -2.7 °C and a maximum of 1.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C. However, it dropped to -14.5 °C in December 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7.5 °C. However, it reached 9.8 °C in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always below the horizon.
The average sea temperature is of 6.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.