Climate - Pajala (Sweden)

The climate of Pajala is cold continental, with freezing winters and mild summers.
The town is located in northern Sweden, in Lapland, in the province of Norrbotten, near the border with Finland.
Since we are at the 67th parallel, therefore north of the Polar Circle, the sun does not set (midnight sun) from June 1st to July 12th. 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 19th, and until August 24th. Due to atmospheric refraction, however, even on the days of the winter solstice, the sun is visible on the horizon for about an hour.
In winter, there can be cold spells of arctic origin. The coldest record is -45.2 °C (-49.4 °F) and was set in January 1999.
In summer, the temperature can reach 28/30 °C (82/86 °F) on the hottest days, but this happens rarely. The highest record is 32 °C (89.6 °F) and was set in June 1966.

Best Time

The best time to visit Pajala 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.

Pajala - Climate data

In Pajala, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -12.7 °C (9.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Pajala, precipitation amounts to 560 millimeters (22 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 30 mm (1.2 in) in the driest months (February, March, April) to 75 mm (3 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.

Pajala - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Pajala is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.7 °C (9 °F), with a minimum of -17.4 °C (0.6 °F) and a maximum of -7.9 °C (17.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -32.5 °C (-27 °F). However, it dropped to -45.2 °C (-49.4 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2 °C (36 °F). However, it reached 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are short.

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In February, the weather in Pajala is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -12.2 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -17.2 °C (1.1 °F) and a maximum of -7.2 °C (19 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -32.5 °C (-26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -39.5 °C (-39.1 °F) in February 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3 °C (38 °F). However, it reached 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.

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In March, the weather in Pajala is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -6.8 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -12.4 °C (9.6 °F) and a maximum of -1.2 °C (29.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -28 °C (-18.5 °F). However, it dropped to -36 °C (-32.8 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it reached 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.

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In April, the weather in Pajala is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.5 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -5.6 °C (22 °F) and a maximum of 4.6 °C (40.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18.5 °C (-1 °F). However, it dropped to -25.5 °C (-13.9 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 minutes.

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In May, the weather in Pajala is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.0 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -11.8 °C (10.8 °F) in May 2014.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.

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In June, the weather in Pajala is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.7 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.6 °F) and a maximum of 17 °C (62.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -2.9 °C (26.8 °F) in June 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in June 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 24 hours and 0 minutes. So the sun is always above the horizon.

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Pajala is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.8 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9.3 °C (48.7 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in July 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in July 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are very long.

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In August, the weather in Pajala is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.2 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in August 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are very long.

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In September, the weather in Pajala is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.0 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) and a maximum of 11.5 °C (52.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11 °C (12.2 °F) in September 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in September 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.

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In October, the weather in Pajala is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.2 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -3.6 °C (25.5 °F) and a maximum of 3.2 °C (37.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16.5 °C (2 °F). However, it dropped to -23.7 °C (-10.7 °F) in October 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it reached 15.3 °C (59.5 °F) in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.

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In November, the weather in Pajala is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -6.9 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -10.7 °C (12.8 °F) and a maximum of -3.1 °C (26.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -24.5 °C (-12.5 °F). However, it dropped to -32.5 °C (-26.5 °F) in November 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it reached 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are short.

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In December, the weather in Pajala is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -10.3 °C (13 °F), with a minimum of -14.7 °C (5.5 °F) and a maximum of -5.9 °C (21.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29.5 °C (-21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -36.6 °C (-33.9 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3 °C (38 °F). However, it reached 7 °C (44.6 °F) in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 1 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.