Tromsø, located above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, features a subarctic coastal climate with long, snowy winters and short, cool summers. The city is renowned for its dramatic daylight shifts, including polar night and midnight sun, frequent precipitation, and abundant opportunities for winter sports and Arctic adventures year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Tromsø’s climate is shaped by its high latitude and proximity to the Norwegian Sea. Winters (November–April) are long, cold, and snowy, with average highs from -5°C to 0°C and lows occasionally dropping to -14°C. Snow cover is deep and persistent, often reaching its maximum in April, and snow can linger until early May. Despite the latitude, the Gulf Stream moderates temperatures, making winters milder than in many other Arctic locations. The polar night lasts from late November to mid-January, when the sun doesn’t rise, but the sky glows in hues of blue and pink. Winter is prime time for Northern Lights viewing, dog sledding, and other snowy activities. Winds are moderate but can be brisk during storms, and the city experiences 13–16 snowy days per month in winter.
Spring (April–May) brings increasing daylight – up to 23 hours by late May – and slowly rising temperatures, but snow and chilly winds often persist into May. Summer (June–August) is short, cool, and bright, with average highs of 12–15°C and lows around 7–9°C. The midnight sun shines from mid-May to late July, delivering 24-hour daylight and up to 7–8 hours of sunshine daily. Rain is frequent, especially in August and September, and weather can change quickly. Autumn (September–October) is crisp and rainy, with temperatures dropping from 10°C to 3°C and daylight hours rapidly decreasing. Annual precipitation is high, at around 1,000–1,100 mm, with October being the wettest month. The sea is ice-free year-round but rarely exceeds 11°C, making swimming a challenge even in summer.
| Average climate data for Tromsø, Norway | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -4 | -4 | -2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | -2 | 14 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -8 | -9 | -7 | -4 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 0 | -3 | -6 | -9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 81 | 82 | 104 | 88 | 77 | 75 | 55 | 78 | 80 | 91 | 85 | 89 | 985 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 148 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 379 | 392 | 570 | 371 | 181 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 214 | 307 | 374 | 2,821 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 15 | 16 | 23 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 120 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 84 | 85 | 90 | 84 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 84 | 82 | 83 | 83 | 83 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 17 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 1 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 59 | 64 | 75 | 69 | 65 | 68 | 59 | 59 | 61 | 65 | 66 | 64 | 64 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
The best time to visit Tromsø depends on your interests. For midnight sun, hiking, and outdoor adventures, June to August offers mild temperatures and 24-hour daylight. For Northern Lights, dog sledding, and snowy landscapes, visit from November to March, when nights are long and snow is abundant.
The least favourable time is October, which is the wettest month and often cloudy, with frequent rain and rapidly shortening days. Early spring (April) can also be challenging, with lingering snow, slush, and unpredictable weather, though daylight increases rapidly.
Tromsø’s annual average temperature is about 3–4°C. January and February are the coldest months (highs -3°C, lows -7°C), while July is the warmest (highs 15°C, lows 9°C).
Yes, Tromsø is very snowy, with snow cover from November to early May. Snow depth often peaks in April, sometimes reaching over 1.5 metres, making it ideal for winter sports.
Tromsø enjoys up to 8 hours of sunshine per day in June and July, but only 0–2 hours in winter. The city experiences polar night (no sunrise) from late November to mid-January and midnight sun from mid-May to late July.
The best time for Northern Lights is from late September to late March, when nights are long and skies are dark. February and March offer good chances with more stable weather.
Yes, Tromsø is excellent for winter sports like skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling from December to April, when snow is deep and reliable.
The midnight sun shines in Tromsø from 19 May to 26 July, with 24 hours of daylight. This is a unique time for hiking, sightseeing, and outdoor festivals.
Pack insulated, windproof layers and boots for winter. For summer, bring warm layers, a rain jacket, and sun protection. Weather can change quickly, so always check the forecast and be prepared.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (13.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-4.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 3.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (8.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (-9.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is -0.8 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (11.4 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (4.2 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 7.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is March (104 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (55 mm). Over the whole year there are 985.2 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is June (19.3 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (4.8 days). Over the whole year there are 147.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is March (569.6 mm). The months with the least snowfall are July and August (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 2,820.6 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is March (22.8 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is July (0 days). Over the whole year there are 119.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is April (89.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (79.5 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 83.3 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is March (17.2 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (9.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 13.8 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is March (74.8 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (58.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 64.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is August (Average daylight: 18 h). The months with the shortest days, so the least daylight, are June and December (Average daylight: 0 h). Over the whole year there are 7.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 7.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 0 h). Over the whole year there are 2.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 4). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, March, April, October, November and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 1.8.
