Climate - Vardo (Norway)

The climate of Vardø is subarctic, with very cold winters and very cool to quite cold summers.
The village is located in the extreme north-east of Norway, on a small island, overlooking the Barents Sea, which remains ice-free even in winter due to the Gulf Stream.
Since we are at the 70th parallel, therefore north of the Polar Circle, the sun does not rise (polar night) from November 24th to January 19th, and does not set (midnight sun) from May 16th to July 28th. The white nights, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur as early as April 10th and until September 2nd.

Winter is very cold, with frequent snowfalls. The ground is often covered with snow, however, 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. The temperature drops below -5 °C (23 °F) for twenty days in January to February, but also for eight days in November and six days in April.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature generally drops to around -15 °C (5 °F), although it can drop to lower values from time to time. The coldest record is -22.7 °C (-8.9 °F) and was set in February 1929.

The summer is very cool, sometimes even cold, more than in the cities of the north-west coast of Norway (see Tromsø, Harstad, Alta). There are several days when fog forms, and the maximum temperature remains below 10 °C (50 °F). The rains are quite frequent.
Sometimes, however, there may be mild periods, usually of short duration, with highs of 18/22 °C (64/68 °F). Very rarely it can exceed 25 °C (77 °F). The highest record is 27 °C (80.6 °F) and was set in July 1987.

Best Time

The best time to visit Vardø 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.

Vardo - Climate data

In Vardo, the average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of -4.1 °C (24.6 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Vardo, precipitation amounts to 620 millimeters (24.4 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 35 mm (1.4 in) in the driest month (May) to 70 mm (2.8 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
At Vardo, the sea temperature ranges from 3 °C (37 °F) in March to 9.5 °C (49 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Vardo - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Vardo is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -3.6 °C (25 °F), with a minimum of -6 °C (21.1 °F) and a maximum of -1.2 °C (29.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13 °C (9 °F). However, it dropped to -21.5 °C (-6.7 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it reached 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) in January 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 1 hour and 25 minutes. So the days are very short.
The average sea temperature is of 4 °C (39 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Vardo is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -4.1 °C (25 °F), with a minimum of -6.5 °C (20.4 °F) and a maximum of -1.8 °C (28.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13 °C (9 °F). However, it dropped to -20.1 °C (-4.2 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it reached 6.1 °C (43 °F) in February 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
The average sea temperature is of 3.5 °C (38 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Vardo is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -2.5 °C (28 °F), with a minimum of -4.6 °C (23.8 °F) and a maximum of -0.4 °C (31.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in March 2006.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it reached 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 3 °C (38 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Vardo is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.3 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -1.6 °C (29.1 °F) and a maximum of 2.2 °C (36 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -11.2 °C (11.8 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it reached 11.7 °C (53.1 °F) in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 30 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 3.5 °C (38 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Vardo is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.8 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) and a maximum of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average sea temperature is of 4 °C (39.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Vardo is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.0 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 9.1 °C (48.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in June 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in June 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours. So the sun is always above the horizon.
The average sea temperature is of 6 °C (42.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Vardo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.2 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 8 °C (46.4 °F) and a maximum of 12.3 °C (54.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.4 °C (38.1 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 23 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average sea temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Vardo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.3 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F) and a maximum of 12.3 °C (54.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66.5 °F). However, it reached 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Vardo is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 5.8 °C (42.5 °F) and a maximum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.9 °C (30.4 °F) in September 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) in September 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Vardo is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.2 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) and a maximum of 5 °C (41 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.4 °C (13.3 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it reached 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (45 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Vardo is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.3 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -2.3 °C (27.9 °F) and a maximum of 1.6 °C (35 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -14.8 °C (5.4 °F) in November 2002.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it reached 10 °C (50 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very short.
The average sea temperature is of 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Vardo is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -2.1 °C (28 °F), with a minimum of -4.3 °C (24.2 °F) and a maximum of 0.1 °C (32.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17 °C (1.4 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it reached 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), 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 5 °C (40.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.