Climate in Lillehammer (Norway)

The climate of Lillehammer is moderately continental, with cold winters, during which the average temperature is a few degrees below freezing, and mild summers.
The city is located in southern Norway, 140 km (85 mi) north of Oslo and at an altitude ranging from 130 meters or 425 feet (where the northernmost branch of Lake Mjøsa receives the waters of the Gudbrandsdalslågen river) to 500 meters (or 1,640 ft).
We are in the interior of Norway, east of the Jotunheimen mountain range, which blocks the mild currents from the Atlantic Ocean. Not surprisingly, winter sports are practiced in the area (which includes locations such as Hafjell, Kvitfjell and Sjusjøen, which are located at about 800 meters or 2,600 feet above sea level), and the city hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Winter is very cold, with temperatures normally below freezing even during the day. Typically, precipitation occurs in the form of snow, and the ground is snow-covered even in March. There may be some relatively mild periods, when the temperature rises above freezing during the day, but also very cold periods, in which the temperature drops to -20 °C (-4 °F) or even below. The temperature dropped to -31 °C (-24 °F) in January 1987.

The summer is mild, with fairly frequent rains. Sometimes, it can get cold at night, in fact the minimum can drop down to 5 °C (41 °F) or even below (in July 1993, it dropped to 0 °C or 32 °F).
On the other hand, during the day it can get hot, and the temperature can reach 28/30 °C (82/86 °F). In the hot month of July 2018, it reached 32.5 °C (90.5 °F), and the average high has been 27.6 °C (81.7 °F).



On the shortest day of the year, December 21st, the sun rises at 9:30 am and sets at 3:00 pm. In mid-January, the sun rises at 9:15 am and sets at 3:40 pm, and in mid-February, it rises at 8 am and sets at 5:05 pm. On March 21, the day of the spring equinox, the sun rises at 6:15 am and sets at 6:35 pm.
On the longest day, June 21, the sun rises at 3:40 am and sets at 11:00 pm.
The white nights, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur from May 8 to August 5.

Best Time

The best time to visit Lillehammer 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.
For winter sports, in February, the temperatures are the same as in January, but as we have mentioned, the days are longer. In March, the days are even longer. The Hafjell ski lifts typically close in mid-April.

Lillehammer - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -5.8 °C (21.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 16.7 °C (62.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 730 millimeters (28.7 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 35 mm (1.4 in) in the driest months (February, March, April) to 105 mm (4.1 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 1540 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Lillehammer - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -5.8 °C (22 °F), with a minimum of -8.7 °C (16.4 °F) and a maximum of -2.9 °C (26.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18.5 °C (-1 °F). However, it dropped to -26.2 °C (-15.2 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it reached 10.4 °C (50.7 °F) in January 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.

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February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -4.9 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -8.3 °C (17.1 °F) and a maximum of -1.6 °C (29.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C (0.5 °F). However, it dropped to -23.2 °C (-9.8 °F) in February 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it reached 11 °C (51.8 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.

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March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -4.6 °C (23.7 °F) and a maximum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14 °C (7 °F). However, it dropped to -24.1 °C (-11.4 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53 °F). However, it reached 16 °C (60.8 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 8 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 38% of the time.

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April is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.7 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 0 °C (32 °F) and a maximum of 9.5 °C (49.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.3 °C (9.9 °F) in April 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it reached 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) in April 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.0 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 4.4 °C (40 °F) and a maximum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.2 °C (24.4 °F) in May 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.

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June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.9 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 8.6 °C (47.4 °F) and a maximum of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) in June 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 10 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 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.7 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) and a maximum of 22 °C (71.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 3.2 °C (37.8 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 32.4 °C (90.3 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.

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August is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.1 °C (50.1 °F) and a maximum of 19.8 °C (67.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) in August 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.

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September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.3 °C (43.4 °F) and a maximum of 14.9 °C (58.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.1 °C (28.2 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in September 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.

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October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.2 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.1 °F) and a maximum of 7.2 °C (45 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -14.4 °C (6.1 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.

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November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.9 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) and a maximum of 1.4 °C (34.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -18.8 °C (-1.8 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it reached 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 10 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.

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -5.3 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -8.1 °C (17.5 °F) and a maximum of -2.5 °C (27.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16.5 °C (2 °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 6 °C (43 °F). However, it reached 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) in December 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 19% of the time.