The climate of Alta
Alta,
Norway, according to the Köppen climate classification, falls under category Dfc, signifying a subarctic climate. It is characterized by severe winters, no dry season, and a cool summer. The geographic locale results in broad fluctuations in weather parameters across the year.
Temperature ranges significantly throughout the year in Alta. The noticeably coldest month is
February, with temperatures dropping down to -11.9°C (10.6°F) during nights and barely touching -6.7°C (19.9°F) during daytime. Conversely, the relatively warmer period arrives in
July with night temperatures hitting 8.7°C (47.7°F) and daytime reaching a peak at 14.4°C (57.9°F).
Variances in Alta's relative humidity span from 75% in
June to 89% in
April. On average, the city has a high relative humidity throughout the year. The town also experiences a common pattern of increased rainfall from 16mm (0.63") in February to 44mm (1.73") in July. However, snowfall, which is a common phenomenon, sees the most volume, 137mm (5.39"), in
March and least in July.
Wind speed tends to be relatively constant across the year in Alta, with the highest average speed hitting 17.5km/h (10.9mph) in March, while in
August dropping to the lowest at 11.8km/h (7.3mph).
Visibility in Alta remains quite uniform throughout the year, maintaining 8km (5mi) to 9km (5.6mi) in general. The frequency of days with sunlight decreases to a relative low of 9.1 days in June and peaks at 17.3 days in
January.
The best time to visit Alta
The prime time for explorers to experience
Alta's climatic charm is arguably between
June to
August. During these months, average temperatures range from 4.8°C (40.6°F) to 8.7°C (47.7°F) at night and from 9.4°C (48.9°F) to 14.4°C (57.9°F) during the day. One can also expect relatively lower humidity during these months, 75%, compared to other periods within the year. Notably, the hours of daylight extend dramatically during the summer period, reaching a high of 24 hours in June, providing extra time for outdoor activities.
The worst time to visit Alta
The time period between
November to
January can prove to be quite challenging for visitors. These months witness the city's lowermost temperatures from -8.2°C (17.2°F) to -5.4°C (22.3°F) at night and from -4.1°C (24.6°F) to -1.7°C (28.9°F) during the day. Furthermore, the daylight duration is substantially reduced, hitting a minimum duration of zero hours in
December. Light visibility also shrinks during these months, making outdoor activities less appealing.
Spring weather in Alta
From
March to
May,
Alta experiences spring. This period is marked by temperatures oscillating between -9.6°C (14.7°F) to -0.5°C (31.1°F) during the nights and from -4°C (24.8°F) to 4.4°C (39.9°F) during the day. May sees rainfall increasing from 27mm (1.06") to 31mm (1.22") in contrast to a dramatic drop in snowfall from 137mm (5.39") to 46mm (1.81"). The daylight hours significantly increase from 11.7 hours in March to 22.3 hours in May.
Summer weather in Alta
Summers in
Alta span from
June to
August. The temperatures during these months perceptibly improve from 4.8°C (40.6°F) to 7.3°C (45.1°F) at nighttime and from 9.4°C (48.9°F) to 12.9°C (55.2°F) during daylight hours. Rainfall has a general upward trend, ranging from 35mm (1.38") in June to 33mm (1.3") in August. Although snowfall is absent during the summer weather, daylight is readily abundant reaching a maximum of 24 hours in June.
Autumn weather in Alta
Autumn in
Alta begins from
September extending till
November. Temperatures during this period shift from 4.5°C (40.1°F) to -5.4°C (22.3°F) at night and from 9.2°C (48.6°F) to -1.7°C (28.9°F) during the day. Rainfall is varied from 23mm (0.91") in September to 22mm (0.87") in November. Snowfall also starts to pick up, significantly rising from 6mm (0.24") to 99mm (3.9"). Daylight duration decreases rapidly from 13.4 hours in September to 3.4 hours in November.
Winter weather in Alta
The winter season starts in
December and ends in
February. During this timeframe, temperatures dip down from -8.2°C (17.2°F) to -11.9°C (10.6°F) in the nighttime and from -4.1°C (24.6°F) to -6.7°C (19.9°F) in the daytime. Rainfall also drops from 19mm (0.75") to 16mm (0.63") while snowfall increases dramatically from 91mm (3.58") in December to 94mm (3.7") in
January. Daylight hours are at their lowest, falling from zero hours in December to 7.3 hours in February.
Weather in January
Kickstarting the year in
Alta,
Norway is the chill of
January, a month known for its minimal daylight hours. Esker-white landscapes dominate the scenery as frequent snowfall presents a frozen panorama. January sees the most snowfall in the year, registering an average of 94mm (3.7").
Weather in January »Weather in February
Moving into
February, the weather remains fairly comparable to
January with persistent icy conditions. The city is steeped in a cold embrace with snowfall continuing to be considerable, though a slight decrease from January. February, however, differs with marginally prolonged daylight hours making the days not as short as those in January.
Weather in February »Weather in March
March, the first month of the spring in
Alta, is also a subzero cold month, with an average temperature fluctuating between -9.6°C (14.7°F) and -4°C (24.8°F). Alta,
Norway, records a slight change with March's average high-temperatures adjusting to a still subzero cold -4°C (24.8°F) from
February's -6.7°C (19.9°F).
Weather in March »
Weather in April
April in
Alta,
Norway signifies the arrival of spring, with a considerable leap in temperatures from
March. Amid these warmer conditions, sprinkles of moderate rainfall are not uncommon, instilling freshness to the environment. The snowfall drifts down to a mere 99mm (3.9"), marking a substantial reduction from past months.
Weather in April » Weather in May
The renowned Scandinavian summer is ushered in with
May, and
Alta,
Norway is no exception to this transition. The landscape gradually shifts from a frigid white to myriad hues of green, implying the resurgence of flora. The month is marked by a significant dip in the snowfall, measuring only 46mm (1.81").
Weather in May »Weather in June
June in
Alta witnesses a full bloom of the summer, with the temperature escalating further from
May. This period denotes the peak of the midnight sun phenomenon, a natural wonder where the sun is visible even at midnight. Without a trace of snowfall, the month is distinguished by the maximum average rainfall of the year, recording 35mm (1.38").
Weather in June »
Weather in July
July marks the height of summer in
Alta,
Norway with temperatures higher than the preceding months. Despite the warmth, the climate remains pleasant and does not reach intolerable extremes. Although the rainfall becomes more recurrent, registering an average of 44mm (1.73"), July is devoid of any snowfall.
Weather in July » Weather in August
The city of
Alta moves into the late summer in
August with the weather retaining its warm quality. Even though the temperatures are comparatively high, the tail-end of summer comes with a subtle dip. Instead of snow, a decent amount of rain maintains the verdant landscapes keeping the surroundings fresh.
Weather in August »Weather in September
September in
Alta marks the onset of fall, with weather patterns gradually shifting towards the cooler side. The dip in temperatures gives a hint of the imminent winter, although the month manages to maintain pleasant conditions.
Weather in September »
Weather in October
October brings in a clear chill in
Alta,
Norway, with temperatures slipping further down from
September. The landscape begins re-donning its icy attire as snowfall climbs up resulting in a white panorama. One of the aspects that distinctly separates October from the preceding month is rainfall, indicating a wetter phase.
Weather in October » Weather in November
As
Alta steps into
November, it signifies the returning hold of winter. The weather becomes visibly austere as temperatures further stoop. The snowfall increases from
October and matches the
January level at 99mm (3.9"), covering the city in a thick sheet of white.
Weather in November »Weather in December
Closing the year in
Alta,
Norway is
December, which is prominently cold accompanied by robust snowy climates. While temperatures remain distinctively frosty, precipitation majorly takes the form of snowfall. Similar to the year's opening month, December's snowfall touches a high averaging 91mm (3.58").
Weather in December » [Resources]