Climate in Kiruna (Sweden)

The climate of Kiruna is cold continental, with freezing winters and mild summers.
The city is located in northern Sweden, in Lapland, in the province of Norrbotten, at 500 meters (1,650 feet) above sea level.
Since we are at the 68th parallel, therefore north of the Polar Circle, the sun does not rise (polar night) from December 11 to January 1st, and does not set (midnight sun) from May 28 to July 16. The white nights, when the sun sets but it doesn't get completely dark even at midnight, occur before and after the period of the midnight sun, ie from April 17th, and until August 27th.
In winter, there can be cold spells of arctic origin. The coldest record is -42.3 °C (-44.1 °F) and was set in February 1966.
In summer there can be short hot periods. The highest record is 30 °C (86 °F) and was set in July 2018.

Best Time

The best time to visit Kiruna 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.

Kiruna - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -11.6 °C (11.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 560 millimeters (22 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 20 mm (0.8 in) in the driest month (March) to 115 mm (4.5 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 1555 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Kiruna - 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 -11.6 °C (11 °F), with a minimum of -15.9 °C (3.3 °F) and a maximum of -7.2 °C (19.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29 °C (-20 °F). However, it dropped to -40.1 °C (-40.2 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it reached 7 °C (44.6 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are very short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 9% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -11.5 °C (11 °F), with a minimum of -16 °C (3.1 °F) and a maximum of -7 °C (19.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -28.5 °C (-19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -36.5 °C (-33.7 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it reached 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7.7 °C (18 °F), with a minimum of -12.5 °C (9.6 °F) and a maximum of -2.9 °C (26.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -24 °C (-11 °F). However, it dropped to -30.1 °C (-22.2 °F) in March 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it reached 9 °C (48.2 °F) in March 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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April is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2.1 °C (28 °F), with a minimum of -6.5 °C (20.2 °F) and a maximum of 2.3 °C (36.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C (1 °F). However, it dropped to -26 °C (-14.8 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it reached 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) in April 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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May is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.4 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 0.2 °C (32.3 °F) and a maximum of 8.6 °C (47.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -14.6 °C (5.7 °F) in May 1999.
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 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.9 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) and a maximum of 14.4 °C (57.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in June 2017.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always above the horizon.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.4 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 8.8 °C (47.9 °F) and a maximum of 18 °C (64.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.9 °C (33.6 °F) in July 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 30.1 °C (86.2 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.1 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.3 °C (27.9 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in August 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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September is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.3 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) and a maximum of 10 °C (50.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -9.4 °C (15.1 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it reached 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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October is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -1.0 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -4 °C (24.7 °F) and a maximum of 2.1 °C (35.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14.5 °C (6 °F). However, it dropped to -25 °C (-13 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it reached 13.2 °C (55.8 °F) in October 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7.1 °C (19 °F), with a minimum of -10.7 °C (12.8 °F) and a maximum of -3.5 °C (25.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -22.5 °C (-9 °F). However, it dropped to -30 °C (-22 °F) in November 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it reached 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) in November 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 15% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -9.7 °C (15 °F), with a minimum of -13.9 °C (7 °F) and a maximum of -5.5 °C (22.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -26 °C (-14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -34.3 °C (-29.7 °F) in December 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4.5 °C (39.5 °F). However, it reached 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 0 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 0% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).