Norway is a wide country covering several climate zones. Essentially the most populated areas of Norway has a temperate climate, while the highest mountains and the Northernmost part of the country stretches into alpine/arctic climate.
Eastern Norway (interior "behind" Oslo) has a continental climate (cold, dry winters, warm summers), while Oslo itself has a mix of continental and coastal climate. Coastal Norway has a temperate coastal climate, mild and humid all year (comparable to Scotland or the Netherlands), to the north the coasts get progressively more arctic and more dry. The western coast from Stavanger to Kristiansund (and some coastal areas in Nordland county) has the most humid climate.
The driest areas in the eastern valleys' rain shadow gets only one tenth of the rain that falls on western slopes few kilometers away. Sjåk area in northern Gudbrandsdalen valley gets about 280 millimeter rain pr year and are in fact one of the driest places in Europe (areas getting less than 250 millimeter are regarded as deserts).The interior of eastern valleys and in particular the interior of Troms and Finnmark counties is mostly cold during mid-winter.
One of the most common misperceptions is that Norway is a very cold place. All major cities are along the coast and enjoy a temperate coastal climate, and (except for Tromsø) there are small or moderate amounts of snow. Visitors are generally surprised how warm the summers (May-Aug) are, particularly in the eastern valleys as well as in the interior in other parts of the country. However, because of the northern location summers are not predictably warm, particularly along the coast. Visitors should be prepared for cool and rainy days even in summer.
Visitors are also encouraged to learn about Norway's great variation in daylight, variations in daylight maybe more important than variations in weather Although midnight sun is only above the arctic circle, even in southern Norway it is hardly dark at night during june-july. Even if you don't see the midnight sun itself (which is no big deal), the endless evenings and gentle nights is a great experience for many visitors. During winter there is a period of absolutly no sun in the north, only a vague daylight (twilight at noon), this period is simply called the dark period. Although a fascinating time if ready for it (daylight is spooky and it is easy to see the northern light), some visitors find it depressing. Specific information for many towns on this webpage.
Winter (December-early March) can be a diffcult time for visitors not used to snow and ice, however, the South-West coast (Bergen and Stavanger) only occasionaly have snow for more than a few hours in one time and frost for more than a few days. Visitors are urged to learn about climate in various parts of Norway before coming in the winter season (mid October to early April). If you don't have any experience driving on snow and ice, don't go on a car trip in winter.
This map at the national Met Office shows the typical (average) date for bare ground (snow gone). This map shows the annual average for the 1961-90 periode, note however that some areas (interior in parituclar) have substantial seasonal variations (places that are coldest in winter is often warmest in summer).
Norway has an excellent weather service at:
http://www.yr.no/english/1.2025949
HOLIDAYS
Norwegian vacation is mostly in July, and foreign visitors often arrive during vacation time on the continent. May-early June tends to be low season, despite that May-June is an attractive season - dry, fresh and green.
Norway has a wide range of offers for winter sport and season is much longer than in the Alps. In the north and at higher altitudes, skiing is possible until mid-May or even later.
Norway is a predominantly Christian (lutheran) country, and the following Christian holidays are also public holidays (schools, offices and most shops closed):
- Christmas: Christmas Eve (the 24th of December - services closed from about 3 pm), Christmas day (the 25th), Boxing day (the 26th)
- Easter (usually during April): Good Friday, Holy Thursday (Thursday before Good Friday), Easter Eve (from about 1 pm), Easter Sunday, second day of Easter
- Ascension Thursday (usually during May - it is the sixth Thursday after Easter Eve)
- Pentecost (sometime during May/June): Whit Sunday, Whit Monday
Public transport is limited on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and very limited on Christmas Eve/Christmas day. Many Norwegians include New Years day in a prolonged Christmas vacation. Easter in the same way tend to be a much longer vacation than in many other Christian countries.
It is also worth noting that Norwegian schools close down for "spring vacation" around February/March and "fall vacation" around September/October, adding up to the already plentiful list of holidays above. Norwegian families often use these vacations for trips around the country, as it is usual for parents to spend some days off work with their kids. To limit the the country's simultaneous close-down, the timing of these two vacations differ between geographic locations, making the times you might encounter locals during daytime trips more spread throughout the year.
Other public holidays:
- January 1 - New Years day
- May 1 - Labour day
- May 17 - Constitution Day, national celebration in the streets, interesting experience for visitors
In addition, St. John's day is celebrated with bonfires late evening of June 23rd (actually midsummer festival).