Sweden Climate

Climate of Sweden

Most of Sweden's territory has a temperate climate, which is warmer and drier than in other countries at the same latitude. This is mainly due to the influence of the sea current from the North Atlantic (Gulf Stream).

The south of the country (including Gothenburg, Malmö, the islands of Öland and Gotland) has a temperate climate of the maritime variety, characterized by warm and humid summers and cool winters. Temperatures in the warmest months typically range from 20°C to 25°C. In the coldest months, the mercury pole drops from 2°C to several degrees below 0°C. Snowfall usually occurs from December to March, but there are also winters during which there is no snow at all. The southwestern coast remains mostly unfrozen in winter, while the Baltic Sea is regularly covered with ice during this time. In the south, due to the high humidity, even a little frost makes its mark. Annual precipitation is 1,000 mm (in the southwest) and 500 mm (in the southeast). Rainfall occurs throughout the year with a slight increase falling in late summer and early autumn. Strong winds are common on the island of Öland, with a constant whiff of refreshing sea breeze.

The central area (Central Swedish Lake District, Uppsala) is characterized by a continental variety of temperate climate. Summers are relatively short and moderately warm, with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 23°C. Winters are usually a few degrees colder than in the south of the country, with temperatures ranging from -6°C to 0°C. Average annual precipitation is about 600 mm. Rainfall occurs throughout the year with a slight increase in the summer months, while snow usually falls from November to April.

Northern Sweden, Lapland and the regions beyond the Arctic Circle have a subpolar climate. Summers are short but sunny, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 15°C. Typically, very hot days do not occur very often here. Instead, polar days occur, with the sun not setting beyond the horizon for almost two months. Winters, on the other hand, are long, cold and heavy with snowfall. Temperatures drop to around -10°C - -14°C, and the Scandinavian Mountains in the north can experience frosts as low as -20°C. The days are extremely short, north of the Arctic Circle the sun does not rise at all during this period (polar night), making it impossible for the air to warm up at all. Winter is also the ideal time to observe the aurora borealis, an unusual light phenomenon that occurs in the sky during polar nights. In the north, although there are lower temperatures, the cold is easier to endure because it is dry and windless. Average precipitation is about 500 mm per year in the Sami Highlands, there is more in the Scandinavian Mountains, at about 1,000 mm, and the most precipitation is recorded around Kebnekaise and Sarek National Park - about 1,600 mm - 1,800 mm per year. Snowfall occurs as early as October and lasts until May, the snow cover lasts 6-7 months.