Trondheim, on Norway’s central coast, features a subarctic climate with cool, wet summers and long, cold winters. The city experiences significant seasonal contrasts, with short daylight and frequent snow in winter, and long, mild, often rainy days in summer. Changeable weather, brisk winds, and dramatic shifts in sunlight define Trondheim’s climate 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.
Trondheim’s climate is shaped by its coastal location and northern latitude, resulting in four distinct seasons. Winters (November–March) are cold and dark, with average highs of 1–3°C and lows around -4°C. Snowfall is frequent from November to April, though rain and sleet are also common, and weather can change rapidly. January is typically the coldest month, with occasional cold snaps dropping temperatures below -15°C. Winter days are short, with as little as 5–6 hours of daylight in December and only 0.5–1 hour of sunshine per day. Winds are often brisk, and humidity is high, making the cold feel more intense.
Summers (June–August) are cool and wet, with average highs of 16–20°C and lows of 10–13°C. July is the warmest month, but even then, heatwaves are rare. Rainfall is frequent, with June to September being the wettest period – expect 80–130 mm of rain per month and up to 14–16 rainy days. Sunshine is most abundant in May and June (up to 7–8 hours/day), and daylight lasts up to 20 hours in midsummer, with twilight lingering through the night. Spring and autumn are transitional, with rapidly changing temperatures and weather. Annual precipitation is about 1,200–1,300 mm, and the city is often cloudy or overcast. Winds are generally moderate, but can be brisk, especially in autumn and winter. The sea is cold year-round, reaching 14°C at best in August.
| Average climate data for Trondheim, Norway | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -5 | -5 | -3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | -2 | -4 | -5 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 101 | 83 | 82 | 67 | 52 | 70 | 81 | 77 | 134 | 130 | 99 | 121 | 1,096 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 22 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 239 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 5 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Average UV index | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
The best time to visit Trondheim is from late May to August, when temperatures are mild (13–20°C), days are long (up to 20 hours of daylight), and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor activities. These months offer the most sunshine, open hiking trails, and the best conditions for exploring the coast and fjords.
The least favourable time is from November to March, when days are short, temperatures are cold (1–3°C), and rain, snow, and wind are frequent. While winter offers opportunities for snow sports, outdoor sightseeing can be limited by darkness, wet weather, and icy conditions.
Trondheim’s annual average temperature is about 6–8°C. January is the coldest month (highs 1–2°C, lows -4°C), while July is the warmest (highs 19–20°C, lows 11–13°C).
Trondheim receives about 1,200–1,300 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, with June–September being wettest. Snow is common from November to April, but rain and sleet also occur in winter.
Trondheim enjoys up to 7–8 hours of sunshine per day in May and June. Winter months are much darker, with only 0.5–1 hour of sunshine daily and frequent overcast skies.
Late spring and summer (May–August) are best for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures, long days, and more sunshine. Summer is ideal for hiking, festivals, and exploring the fjords.
Yes, Trondheim is a good base for skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding from December to March, when snow cover is reliable in the hills around the city.
Swimming outdoors is only comfortable for the hardy in July and August, when air temperatures reach 19–20°C and sea temperatures peak at 13–14°C. The water is cold year-round.
Pack layers for all seasons, waterproof and windproof clothing for rain and wind, and insulated gear for winter. An umbrella and sturdy shoes are useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (16.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is February (0 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 7.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-5.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 1.7 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (14.8 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (4.9 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 9.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is September (134 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is May (52.3 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,096.2 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is December (23.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is May (14.9 days). Over the whole year there are 238.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 20 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 4.1 h). Over the whole year there are 12 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 6.9 h). The months with the least sunshine per day are January and December (Average sunshine: 0 h). Over the whole year there are 3.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 4). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 0). Over the whole year the average UV index is 1.7.
