Climate by zone
In these lands, the temperature spectrum is wide, ranging from 30°C in summer to -50°C in winter, although average temperatures are still lower than in southern Europe. To give you an idea, a temperature of 0°C is nothing out of the ordinary in Lapland. Temperatures of -10°C and above are considered "cold". Similarly, at +10°C, it would be quite warm! Although the basics are the same, there are several zones whose geographical features influence certain aspects of the climate.
In the Gulf of Bothnia and inland Lapland. Summers are short and fairly heavy, followed by 7 long months of winter, with temperatures hovering around -35°C. In the far northern resorts, such as Riskgränsen, you can still ski in June, under the midnight sun! Lakes and rivers are frozen for much of the year, turning into roads and avoiding long detours. Spring arrives at the end of May, and with it the eternal sun. June to mid-August is the summer season, when days are sunny, warm and ideal for swimming, with temperatures hovering around 20°C. Exceptionally, they rise to 30°C. By mid-August, we're already gearing up for ruska, the fabulous Lappish autumn of September. In no time at all, the forest undergoes a radical change of color, turning to superb autumnal hues. The first snow usually covers the north as early as October.
In Norwegian Lapland. In the interior of Norway's Finnmark plateau, the climate is even harsher! Winters are dry and windy, and the region has some of the lowest temperatures on record, with temperatures as low as -50°C in towns like Kautokeino and Karasjok. In summer, conditions are quite similar to those in Swedish and Finnish Lapland.
The Norwegian coast. It enjoys a fairly mild, temperate climate, in direct relation to its geography. In Tromsø, located in the far north, the average winter temperature is only -4°C. Winters are less harsh than inland, but the wind blows much harder and it's a place where the weather can vary rapidly, from very hot to very cold, and from rain to sunshine. Even in summer, don't forget your warm clothes and raincoats! Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the current of warm water that runs along the Norwegian coast to the North Cape, the fjords are never covered in ice, despite the largely sub-zero temperatures in winter. In summer, swimming is no problem at all.
Polar Nights
The Arctic Circle crosses our four Lapland countries south of Bodø in Norway and south of Jokkmokk in Sweden, north of Rovaniemi in Finland, and at the level of the Kola Peninsula in Russia. North of the latter, during the midnight sun, the sun remains on the horizon for 24 hours, and conversely, during the polar night, the sun remains below the horizon for an entire day. A fascinating and unsettling phenomenon, which, depending on the season, can deprive you of a few hours' sleep, or on the contrary, force you to get extra rest!
Polar nights. The polar night is the time of year when the sun doesn't rise. This phenomenon can be observed beyond the Arctic Circle. In Lapland, polar night occurs from late November to mid-January. Contrary to popular belief, even during this period it's not pitch black, because even if the sun isn't visible, its glow on the horizon is reflected on the snow, creating a special luminosity. This extraordinary blend of blue, pink and mauve is called Kaamos. An atmosphere full of charm and mystery. When the sun reappears, the days lengthen rapidly, by up to 10 minutes a day, reaching long days from March onwards.
Pearly clouds. Winter brings the phenomenon of pearly clouds. Even rarer than the aurora borealis, though increasingly frequent, they are visible only at dawn and dusk, near the poles. They form between 15,000 and 25,000 meters above sea level. Fascinating in their beauty, they were described as early as 1885 by astronaut Robert Leslie. However, they are by no means a good omen, as they contribute to the formation of holes in the ozone layer, and are in fact a visible sign of global warming.
Midnight Sun
The midnight sun appears around the summer solstice, in June and July, and only occurs above the Arctic Circle. The further north you go, the greater the number of sunny days and nights! Instead of setting, the sun skims the horizon before climbing back into the sky for the following day. The result is an uncertain twilight that lasts from 10pm to 2am, ideal for those who can't bear to see their afternoon sunbathing come to an end!
To make the most of it, find a hill to perch on and watch the midnight sun:
North Cape: May 14 to July 29
Vardø: May 17 to July 26
Utsjoki: May 18 to July 27
Tromsø: May 20 - July 22
In Inari and Ivalo: approx. May 24 - July 21
Svolvær: May 28 - July 14
Kiruna: May 31 - July 11
Rovaniemi: June 6 - July 7
Jokkmokk, June 8 - July 3
Kalix, June 12 to July 29
If the sun's energy is contagious, these long days are as tiring as they are stimulating. Remember to go to bed, preferably wearing a night mask, because in Lapland, as elsewhere in Northern Europe, there are no shutters.
