This report describes the typical weather at the Stokmarknes Airport (Stokmarknes, Norway) weather station over the course of an average year. It is based on the historical records from 1985 to 2012. Earlier records are either unavailable or unreliable.
Stokmarknes 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 (46%), tundra (28%), and forests (24%).
Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 26°F to 61°F and is rarely below 16°F or above 70°F.
The warm season lasts from June 18 to September 6 with an average daily high temperature above 55°F. The hottest day of the year is July 26, with an average high of 61°F and low of 53°F.
The cold season lasts from November 16 to April 8 with an average daily high temperature below 38°F. The coldest day of the year is January 31, with an average low of 26°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, Stokmarknes 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 57 days, from May 23 to July 19.
In winter, the Sun is continuously below the horizon for 35 days, from December 4 to January 8.
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 82% (mostly cloudy) and does not vary substantially over the course of the year.
On January 21, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 10% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 18% of the time.
On September 18, the cloudiest day of the year, the sky is overcast, mostly cloudy, or partly cloudy 30% of the time, and clear or mostly clear 3% of the time.
The probability that precipitation will be observed at this location varies throughout the year. Precipitation is most likely around October 16, occurring in 75% of days. Precipitation is least likely around July 6, occurring in 60% of days.
Over the entire year, the most common forms of precipitation are moderate rain, moderate snow, light rain, and light snow.
Moderate rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 33% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around September 12, when it is observed during 39% of all days.
Moderate snow is the most severe precipitation observed during 24% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around February 6, when it is observed during 36% of all days.
Light rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 21% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around June 18, when it is observed during 22% of all days.
Light snow is the most severe precipitation observed during 17% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around January 14, when it is observed during 21% of all days.
During the warm season, which lasts from June 18 to September 6, there is a 63% 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 (52% of days with precipitation have at worst moderate rain), light rain (33%), and drizzle (11%).
During the cold season, which lasts from November 16 to April 8, there is a 70% 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 (43% of days with precipitation have at worst moderate snow), light snow (27%), moderate rain (16%), and light rain (11%).
The likelihood of snow falling is highest around February 6, occurring in 56% of days. The season in which it is relatively likely for snow to fall spans from October 11 to May 14.
Either snow rarely accumulates at this location or snow depth measurements are unavailable or unreliable.
The relative humidity typically ranges from 57% (mildly humid) to 90% (very humid) over the course of the year, rarely dropping below 39% (comfortable) and reaching as high as 100% (very humid).
The air is driest around May 16, at which time the relative humidity drops below 68% (mildly humid) three days out of four; it is most humid around August 31, exceeding 87% (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 18°F (dry) to 51°F (very comfortable) and is rarely below 5°F (dry) or above 56°F (comfortable).
The time of the year between July 15 and August 16 is the most comfortable, with dew points that are neither too dry nor too muggy.
Over the course of the year typical wind speeds vary from 2 mph to 18 mph (light air to fresh breeze), rarely exceeding 31 mph (strong breeze).
The highest average wind speed of 13 mph (moderate breeze) occurs around January 24, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 18 mph (fresh breeze).
The lowest average wind speed of 7 mph (light breeze) occurs around August 11, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 12 mph (gentle breeze).