Climate - Kristiansand (Norway)

The climate of Kristiansand is relatively continental, with cold winters and mild summers.
The city is located in Agder County, on the coast of the Skagerrak, the strait that separates Norway from Denmark. Even though we are in the far south of Norway, this is not the mildest area of the country, because it is a little less exposed to ocean currents than the west coast.

The winter is cold and cloudy.
There are quite mild periods, more or less long depending on the winter, in which Atlantic currents prevail, the temperature exceeds freezing, it often rains and the wind blows.
There are also colder periods, when it can snow, and the temperature can drop below freezing. Snowfall can sometimes be abundant.
Every year, there is at least one period in which the temperature drops below -10 °C (14 °F), while once every few years, it can drop down to -16/-18 °C (0/3 °F), and more rarely even below -20 °C (-4 °F). The coldest record is -28.2 °C (-18.8 °F) and was set in January 1982.

The summer is mild, with fairly frequent rains. The days are very long. In summer, in this stretch of coast facing south, the sunshine amount is quite good, and better than in the rest of Norway. On fine days, and the sea breeze is not too cool, you can sunbathe on Hamresanden beach.
When it's not raining, there are pleasant days, with highs around 21/22 °C (70/72 °F °F). At times, there can be warm days, in which the temperature reaches or exceeds 25 °C (77 °F). Occasionally, the temperature can even reach 30 °C (86 °F). The highest record is 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) and was set in August 1975.

The latitude of Kristiansand is 58°09'N. On the shortest day of the year, December 21st, the sun rises at 9:13 am and sets at 3:38 pm. On the longest day, June 21, the sun rises at 4:23 am and sets at 10:36 pm. The white nights, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur from May 20 to July 23.

Best Time

The best time to visit Kristiansand 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.

Kristiansand - Climate data

In Kristiansand, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 0.2 °C (32.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 16.7 °C (62.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Kristiansand, precipitation amounts to 1325 millimeters (52.2 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 65 mm (2.6 in) in the driest month (April) to 170 mm (6.7 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
At Kristiansand, the sea temperature ranges from 5 °C (41 °F) in February, March to 16.5 °C (62 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Kristiansand, there are on average around 1795 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Kristiansand - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Kristiansand is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.2 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -2.8 °C (26.9 °F) and a maximum of 3.2 °C (37.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12.5 °C (9.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21.6 °C (-6.9 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it reached 12.4 °C (54.3 °F) in January 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6 °C (43 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Kristiansand is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.3 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -3 °C (26.5 °F) and a maximum of 3.7 °C (38.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (10.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21.4 °C (-6.5 °F) in February 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it reached 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) in February 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. 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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In March, the weather in Kristiansand is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.5 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -1.3 °C (29.7 °F) and a maximum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C (16.5 °F). However, it dropped to -19.6 °C (-3.3 °F) in March 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it reached 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
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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In April, the weather in Kristiansand is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 1.9 °C (35.5 °F) and a maximum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.2 °C (17.2 °F) in April 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it reached 23.7 °C (74.7 °F) in April 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Kristiansand is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.7 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.9 °C (42.7 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3 °C (26.6 °F) in May 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
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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In June, the weather in Kristiansand is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 1.6 °C (34.9 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) in June 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 5 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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13 °C (55.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Kristiansand is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.7 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 12.1 °C (53.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4 °C (39.2 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in July 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 17 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 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In August, the weather in Kristiansand is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (53 °F) and a maximum of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 29.8 °C (85.6 °F) in August 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 125 mm (4.9 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Kristiansand is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.6 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8.8 °C (47.8 °F) and a maximum of 16.5 °C (61.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) in September 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
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 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Kristiansand is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.0 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 4.5 °C (40.2 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -8.4 °C (16.9 °F) in October 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 19.2 °C (66.6 °F) in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 170 mm (6.7 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Kristiansand is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.9 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of 1 °C (33.7 °F) and a maximum of 6.8 °C (44.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -12.7 °C (9.1 °F) in November 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 17.1 °C (62.8 °F) in November 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 150 mm (5.9 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Kristiansand is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.7 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -2.4 °C (27.8 °F) and a maximum of 3.8 °C (38.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11 °F). However, it dropped to -22.9 °C (-9.2 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it reached 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) in December 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 16% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.