This report describes the typical weather at the Andøya Airport (Andenes, Norway) weather station over the course of an average year. It is based on the historical records from 1974 to 2012. Earlier records are either unavailable or unreliable.
Andenes has a humid subarctic continental climate with cool summers and no dry season. The area within 25 mi of this station is covered by oceans and seas (87%), forests (8%), and tundra (4%).
Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 23°F to 57°F and is rarely below 13°F or above 66°F.
The warm season lasts from June 19 to September 10 with an average daily high temperature above 52°F. The hottest day of the year is August 3, with an average high of 57°F and low of 49°F.
The cold season lasts from November 18 to April 7 with an average daily high temperature below 37°F. The coldest day of the year is February 2, with an average low of 23°F and high of 32°F.
The length of the day varies significantly over the course of the year. The shortest day is December 21 with 0:00 hours of daylight; the longest day is June 20 with 24:00 hours of daylight.
Due to its extreme latitude, Andenes experiences polar day (also known as the midnight Sun) during summer and polar night during winter. The precise start and end dates of polar day and night vary from year to year and depend on the precise location and elevation of the observer, and the local topography.
In summer, the Sun is continuously above the horizon for 63 days, from May 20 to July 22.
In winter, the Sun is continuously below the horizon for 45 days, from November 29 to January 13.
Daylight saving time (DST) is observed in this location during 2012, starting in the spring on March 25 and ending in the fall on October 28.
The median cloud cover is 72% (partly cloudy) and does not vary substantially over the course of the year.
On April 1, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 56% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 40% of the time.
On August 7, the cloudiest day of the year, the sky is overcast, mostly cloudy, or partly cloudy 77% of the time, and clear or mostly clear 21% of the time.
The probability that precipitation will be observed at this location varies throughout the year. Precipitation is most likely around September 30, occurring in 77% of days. Precipitation is least likely around July 18, occurring in 64% of days.
Over the entire year, the most common forms of precipitation are moderate rain, moderate snow, and light rain.
Moderate rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 41% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around September 15, when it is observed during 55% of all days.
Moderate snow is the most severe precipitation observed during 35% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around February 5, when it is observed during 53% of all days.
Light rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 10% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around June 22, when it is observed during 13% of all days.
During the warm season, which lasts from June 19 to September 10, there is a 67% average chance that precipitation will be observed at some point during a given day. When precipitation does occur it is most often in the form of moderate rain (71% of days with precipitation have at worst moderate rain), light rain (17%), and drizzle (7%).
During the cold season, which lasts from November 18 to April 7, there is a 75% average chance that precipitation will be observed at some point during a given day. When precipitation does occur it is most often in the form of moderate snow (64% of days with precipitation have at worst moderate snow), moderate rain (17%), and light snow (12%).
The likelihood of snow falling is highest around February 5, occurring in 64% of days. The season in which it is relatively likely for snow to fall spans from October 10 to May 15.
Either snow rarely accumulates at this location or snow depth measurements are unavailable or unreliable.
The relative humidity typically ranges from 58% (mildly humid) to 95% (very humid) over the course of the year, rarely dropping below 44% (comfortable) and reaching as high as 100% (very humid).
The air is driest around May 3, at which time the relative humidity drops below 66% (mildly humid) three days out of four; it is most humid around July 19, exceeding 93% (very humid) three days out of four.
Dew point is often a better measure of how comfortable a person will find the weather than relative humidity because it more directly relates to whether perspiration will evaporate from the skin, thereby cooling the body. Lower dew points feel drier and higher dew points feel more humid.
Over the course of a year, the dew point typically varies from 15°F (dry) to 50°F (very comfortable) and is rarely below 5°F (dry) or above 55°F (very comfortable).
Over the course of the year typical wind speeds vary from 2 mph to 25 mph (light air to strong breeze), rarely exceeding 38 mph (high wind).
The highest average wind speed of 19 mph (fresh breeze) occurs around February 19, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 24 mph (fresh breeze).
The lowest average wind speed of 9 mph (gentle breeze) occurs around August 7, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 14 mph (moderate breeze).