The weather in Sweden: this is what you need to know
I can tell you one thing about the weather in Sweden: “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” This saying actually applies to all of Scandinavia and after living in Sweden for three years now I can indeed say that good clothing is a must when traveling in Sweden. In this article I will share my observations about the weather in Sweden and what to expect when you choose Sweden as your holiday destination.
Hej hej! My name is Antonette and in 2023 I moved from The Netherlands to Sweden. On my website, you will only find firsthand information, written by a local. Enjoy!
In large parts of Sweden we don’t have four but eight seasons. Every season has an intermediate season. At the time of writing, we are in höstsommar, or autumn summer, the season between summer and autumn. Technically, of course, we simply use the regular seasons as we know them in the rest of the world, but in everyday life we often talk about the intermediate seasons.
The weather in Sweden
There is a lot to say about the weather in Sweden, but the most important thing is that it’s just as unpredictable as in many other nordic destinations in Europe. And that, depending on where you are, it can be just as bad as you expect it to be. Or just as good, it just depends on how you perceive it.
Sweden is enormous and it is therefore impossible to discuss all regions. Moreover, last summer I had excellent weather in Lapland where I live and the weather in the center and south of Sweden was downright bad. There was huge precipitation in these parts of Sweden and it was cool. This summer though, we had a really wet and cold summer in the north of Sweden (where I live) and the south of Sweden seemed to have an excellent summer.
Summer in Sweden
Summers in Sweden are relatively short. Summer is spoken of from the longest day of the year (midsummer) until the end of August, although it often cools down quickly from mid-August as the days become shorter. I have regularly experienced frost on the ground in early September while I was still camping and as I’m writing this (mid-September) we had the first night frost of the season again.
In the summer it can be nice and warm, but also cool and rainy. A raincoat and umbrella should certainly not be missing in your luggage, as well as waterproof shoes.
You can read my tips for summer in Sweden here.
Winter in Sweden
Winter is probably the longest season is the biggest parts of Sweden and can last up to 8 months, depending where you are. I live in the south of Lappland and in my first year, the snow came extremely early, at October 6th. The past couple of years, snow usually came early November. However, in the far north of Sweden, around Kiruna and Abisko, snow usually falls towards the end of September.
In the south of Sweden, you may not get any snow at all in winter, or very big amounts. It varies between years. Winter temperatures range between 0 to -40 degrees celsius and can vary depending on where you are.
Autumn in Sweden
Autumn arrives in some areas as early as the end of August. If you are to travel in central Sweden and northern Sweden, don’t be surprised if you experience the first night frost as soon as the nights get shorter in August. The days in the south can often be warmer and sunnier.
First autumn colors may also appear towards the end of August already in the north and starting from late september in the south. It can be one of the most wonderful months to be outside, however keep in mind that the autumn is also hunting season and therefor options to go out hiking can be quite limited.
Spring in Sweden
Spring usually arrives around April, although you can still have snow in many places until May. I have traveled in the south of Sweden several times in April and it can be sunny and warm during the day, but also windy and chilly.
Keep in mind that the trees and plants do not bloom until much later, especially if you go higher. As we speak it is mid-May and the trees here in Lapland are still bare. If you are looking for a beautiful, green landscape, then late spring (late May and June) is a good time to travel.
What spring is very well known for is the cherry blossom. You can see the blossoms in April Kungsträdgården in Stockholm admire it, a very special moment of the year which attracts a lot of tourists.
Another thing to keep in mind, and what you may not expect of Sweden, is that snakes come out in spring and you may encounter many of them. During my most recent visit to the south of Sweden, I encountered 3 snakes in one week, which felt like much.
The weather in Sweden in short
The weather in Sweden is just as unpredictable as in other nordic countries. Rain one day, sun the next. In January it was -35º one week and two weeks later we were around zero for a few days. In Sweden you can experience four seasons in one day at most destinations. Want to know more fun facts about Sweden to prepare for your trip? Then buy my e-book:
E-book Sweden for Beginners
Are you planning your first trip to Sweden? Excellent choice—there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with this country just like I did.
I was once a beginner myself. Back in 2015, to be exact. Since then, I’ve traveled to Sweden every year, and since 2023 I’ve been living in Swedish Lapland. In my e-book, you’ll find everything you need to know about your first trip to Sweden, written by a local (me!).
I share many of my own experiences and all the things I wish I had known when I first traveled to Sweden in 2015.
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I hope you found this article about the weather in Sweden useful and that you found what you were looking for. Would you like to read more about Sweden? Then you may enjoy one of the following articles, too:
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