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Given the extreme northerly position, the mainland climate in Norway is surprisingly mild.

Norway is the northernmost country in the world to have open waters. This is due to the trade winds forced across the Atlantic Ocean by the American continent and the warm currents flowing north from the Equator towards the Norwegian Sea.

Norway’s climate fluctuates greatly from year to year, especially in its most northern parts, which are located at the edge of the global temperate zone. The lowest minimum temperature recorded is -51°C in Kárášjohka-Karasjok in northern Norway. The average annual temperature swings from some 8°C along the western coast to below freezing in the mountains. The coldest months of the year are January and February and the warmest time in the inland areas is mid-July. The coastal and mountain regions may reach their peaks somewhat later.

The climate in Norway differs from that of the rest of Scandinavia. The tall mountain ranges dividing mainland Norway provide protection from precipitation to large areas of inland eastern Norway. This gives the area a more continental climate than would be expected in light of its proximity to the coast.

Some of the areas east of the mountains have an annual rainfall of less than 300 mm. Most of the precipitation from the sea falls along the west coast of Norway, with some areas recording a maximum rainfall of 3000 mm annually.

The most important agricultural areas have an annual rainfall of between 500 and 1000 mm, with most rain falling in July and August. There are about 100 rainy days in inland Norway and some 150-200 rainy days on the coast. The strength and direction of the wind in Norway varies greatly as a result of fast-moving pressure fronts, and the winds along the coast and in the mountains are often quite strong.