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When does it start snowing in Norway?

When the first snow usually comes in different parts of Norway, from Finnmark to the west coast.

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Short answer

In much of Norway winter and snow usually arrive in mid-to-late November, but the mountains and the north can get snow from October. Visit Norway says snow normally lies from late autumn until early spring in most areas. In the 1991–2020 normals, Karasjok in Finnmark is below freezing in October, while Oslo drops below zero only in December.

The Norwegian winter: tips for travellers a round calendar wheel with four seasons shown as a snowflake, a leaf, a sun and a raindrop around a small mountain

Why

  1. Visit Norway says Northern Norway and mountain regions get autumn temperatures earlier than the coast and the lowlands.
  2. In the mountains, rain sometimes turns into snow in early November, according to Visit Norway.
  3. MET's 1991–2020 normals give −0.9 °C in October at Karasjok and 0.2 °C in November in Tromsø, while Oslo's daily normal reaches 0 °C on 1 December.

Details

On the west coast the average temperature stays above freezing all winter: the 1991–2020 normal at Bergen (Florida) is 2.6 °C in January and 2.3 °C in February. Visit Norway notes that Tromsø lies far north, where winter starts early and lasts a long time. Snow in October is therefore most likely in the north and in the mountains.

Tip

If you need snow for skiing or a winter trip, plan for December to March and check current snow depths on yr.no or with the ski resort before you book.

What may differ

The first snow comes at different times each year. At Blindern in Oslo, December 2025 had only 0–1 cm of snow, while January 2026 was cold across Norway, with a national temperature 4.4 °C below normal.

People also ask

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Sources

Information checked on 15 October 2026.

The Norwegian winter: tips for travellers
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