The best times to visit Scandinavia for ideal weather are
April 16th to May 6th
based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.
Scandinavia Travel Guide
Other Scandinavia Travel Info
Weather in Scandinavia
Temperature
Average temperatures in Scandinavia vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is far less temperate than some — in the bottom 1 percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Scandinavia, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late July where highs are regularly around 65.6°F (18.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 48.4°F (9.1°C) at night.
Scandinavia Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
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Scandinavia Temperatures (Celsius)
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“Feels-Like” Temperatures
The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.
Scandinavia Perceived Temperature (F)
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Scandinavia Perceived Temperature (C)
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Average Scandinavia Temperatures by Month
Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.
Show Fahrenheit
| Month | Avg. High (°F) | Avg. Mean (°F) | Avg. Low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23.1 | 17.8 | 11.1 |
| Feb | 23.6 | 18 | 11.1 |
| Mar | 28.4 | 22.6 | 14.9 |
| Apr | 35.8 | 30 | 23.3 |
| May | 45.1 | 38.1 | 31.6 |
| Jun | 55.9 | 47 | 39.6 |
| Jul | 62.9 | 53.7 | 46 |
| Aug | 59.4 | 51 | 43.9 |
| Sep | 49.8 | 43.2 | 37.6 |
| Oct | 38.9 | 34.2 | 29.8 |
| Nov | 31 | 26.9 | 21.9 |
| Dec | 25.8 | 20.4 | 12.9 |
Show Celsius
| Month | Avg. High (°C) | Avg. Mean (°C) | Avg. Low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -4.9 | -7.9 | -11.6 |
| Feb | -4.7 | -7.8 | -11.6 |
| Mar | -2 | -5.2 | -9.5 |
| Apr | 2.1 | -1.1 | -4.8 |
| May | 7.3 | 3.4 | -0.2 |
| Jun | 13.3 | 8.3 | 4.2 |
| Jul | 17.2 | 12.1 | 7.8 |
| Aug | 15.2 | 10.6 | 6.6 |
| Sep | 9.9 | 6.2 | 3.1 |
| Oct | 3.8 | 1.2 | -1.2 |
| Nov | -0.6 | -2.8 | -5.6 |
| Dec | -3.4 | -6.4 | -10.6 |
Precipitation (Rain or Snow)
If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Scandinavia are April, June, and then May. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around late April. For example, on the week of April 23rd there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early March with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of March 5th.
When can you find snow in Scandinavia? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.
Chance of Precipitation
The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Scandinavia.
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Snow on the Ground
The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Scandinavia (in).
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Average Rain and Snow by Month
Show Inches
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (in) | Total Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29% | 0 | 3 |
| Feb | 31% | 0 | 2.6 |
| Mar | 35% | 0 | 3.2 |
| Apr | 22% | 0 | 2 |
| May | 27% | 0 | 2.8 |
| Jun | 27% | 0 | 2.5 |
| Jul | 30% | 0 | 3.4 |
| Aug | 28% | 0 | 3 |
| Sep | 37% | 0 | 4.5 |
| Oct | 32% | 0 | 3.2 |
| Nov | 31% | 0 | 3.1 |
| Dec | 32% | 0 | 3.2 |
Show Centimeters
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (cm) | Total Precipitation (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | 0 | 7.6 |
| Feb | 31 | 0 | 6.6 |
| Mar | 35 | 0 | 8.1 |
| Apr | 22 | 0 | 5.1 |
| May | 27 | 0 | 7.1 |
| Jun | 27 | 0 | 6.4 |
| Jul | 30 | 0 | 8.6 |
| Aug | 28 | 0 | 7.6 |
| Sep | 37 | 0 | 11.4 |
| Oct | 32 | 0 | 8.1 |
| Nov | 31 | 0 | 7.9 |
| Dec | 32 | 0 | 8.1 |
Humidity and Wind
Scandinavia has some extremely humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is June (66.3% relative humidity), and the most humid month is November (89%).
Wind in Scandinavia is usually moderate. The windiest month is March, followed by April and January. March’s average wind speed of around 10 knots (11.5 MPH or 18.5 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early March where average top sustained speeds reach 18.1 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.
Relative Humidity (%)
The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Scandinavia.
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Wind
The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.
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Average Wind Speeds
Show Wind Speeds
All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.
| Month | Avg. Wind | Avg. Wind Feel | Sustained High Wind | High Wind Feel |
| Jan | 8.7 | Gentle breeze | 15.2 | Significant breeze |
| Feb | 8.5 | Gentle breeze | 15.2 | Significant breeze |
| Mar | 10 | Gentle breeze | 17.2 | Significant breeze |
| Apr | 9.7 | Gentle breeze | 16.5 | Significant breeze |
| May | 7.9 | Gentle breeze | 13.4 | Significant breeze |
| Jun | 7.9 | Gentle breeze | 12.8 | Significant breeze |
| Jul | 6.8 | Light breeze | 11.5 | Significant breeze |
| Aug | 6.1 | Light breeze | 10.9 | Gentle breeze |
| Sep | 7.2 | Gentle breeze | 12.4 | Significant breeze |
| Oct | 7.4 | Gentle breeze | 13 | Significant breeze |
| Nov | 7.1 | Gentle breeze | 12.6 | Significant breeze |
| Dec | 7.9 | Gentle breeze | 14.2 | Significant breeze |
Show Relative Humidity by Month
| Month | Avg. Relative Humidity |
|---|---|
| Jan | 84.3% |
| Feb | 84.2% |
| Mar | 79.5% |
| Apr | 77.2% |
| May | 72.7% |
| Jun | 66.3% |
| Jul | 72.1% |
| Aug | 77.2% |
| Sep | 81.8% |
| Oct | 85.1% |
| Nov | 89% |
| Dec | 85.2% |
Is it Safe to Travel to Scandinavia?
#N/A
The Busiest and Least Crowded Months
The busiest month for tourism in Scandinavia is August, followed by April and May. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Scandinavia in October. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.
Estimated Tourism by Month
Most Popular Months to Visit
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Overall Scandinavia Travel Experience by Season
Spring (March through May)
Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel very cold. Highs range from 54.1°F (12.3°C) and 27.1°F (-2.7°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 7 to 11 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.
Summer (June through August)
The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are brisk. These months see moderate precipitation with 8 to 9 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Scandinavia, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.
Fall (September through November)
Fall daily highs range from 53.4°F (11.9°C) and 26.7°F (-2.9°C), which will feel very chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a good amount: 9 to 11 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.
Winter (December through February)
Weather is far too cold this time of year in Scandinavia to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 27.1°F (-2.7°C) and 21.3°F (-5.9°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 9 to 10 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.
Best Times to Travel › Scandinavia