Unusually Mild Winter Continues Across Norway, Threatening Easter Snow

Norway is experiencing an exceptionally mild winter, with record-breaking temperatures reported across the country, particularly in Western and Northern Norway. The unusually warm conditions are raising concerns about the upcoming Easter holiday and the availability of snow for traditional winter activities.

Record Temperatures Across Norway

March 2026 has begun with remarkably warm weather, especially in Western and Northern Norway. Tromsø has recorded its warmest start to March since measurements began in 1920, while Svalbard is experiencing a temperature deviation of 8.9 degrees Celsius above normal. The Meteorological Institute’s monitoring of key locations – Bergen, Oslo, Værnes, Tromsø, and Svalbard – confirms the widespread warmth.

• Bergen: Fourth warmest start to March since 1957, with a +3.5°C deviation from normal.
• Oslo: Eleventh warmest start to March since 1937, with a +2.6°C deviation from normal.
• Værnes: Nineteenth warmest start to March since 1946, with a +2.8°C deviation from normal.
• Tromsø: Tied with 1959 for the warmest recorded start to March since 1920, with a +4.5°C deviation from normal.
• Svalbard: Fifth warmest start to March since 1975, with a +8.9°C deviation from normal.

Continued Mild Weather and Rainfall

State meteorologist Unni Nilsen expects the mild weather to persist. Strong southerly winds are anticipated to bring further high temperatures and rainfall, particularly to North-West Norway. The area around Kvamskogen is forecast to receive up to 150 mm of rainfall through Sunday evening. Southerly gales and even storms are expected along the western coast.

Regional Weather Forecast

• Western Norway: Wet and windy conditions with mild air masses.
• Trøndelag: Mostly clear skies with periods of sun, southeast wind, and mild temperatures.
• Austlandet: Shifting cloud cover, periods of rain, and some sunshine. Mild temperatures, with sub-zero temperatures only in the mountains and at night.
• Northern Norway: Periods of wind and rain in Nordland, calmer conditions further north. Temperatures above freezing during the day in Nordland, but below freezing at night in Troms and Finnmark.

Impact on Easter Holiday

With Easter just weeks away, the lack of snow is raising concerns about traditional winter activities. Skiers may need to ascend to altitudes of 600-800 meters to find suitable snow conditions. While some areas still have snow cover, overall levels are lower than normal for this time of year.

Despite the concerns, meteorologist Nilsen offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that snow may still be available above 600-800 meters.

Travel to Svalbard

The only way to reach Svalbard from Tromsø is by plane. Travelers to and from Svalbard are subject to identity control, as the archipelago is outside the Schengen area. Both Norwegian and SAS offer flights to Svalbard, with a flight time of approximately 1.5 hours from Tromsø. Visit Svalbard provides further travel information.