Sweden's weather has many faces. Sweden enjoys a mostly temperate climate despite its northern latitude, mainly because of the Gulf Stream. Stockholm is warmer and milder, while in the mountains of northern Sweden a sub-Arctic climate predominates.
North of the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets for part of each summer, which is called the Midnight Sun, one of Scandinavia's natural phenomena. The opposite occurs in the winter, when night is unending for a corresponding period. These are the Polar Nights (another one of Scandinavia's natural phenomena).
There is an important weather divergence between northern and southern Sweden: the north has a long winter of more than seven months. The south, on the other hand, has winter weather for only two months and a summer of more than four.
Annual rainfall averages 61 cm (24 in) and the maximum rainfall occurs in late summer. Sweden boasts considerable snowfall, and in Sweden's north snow remains on the ground for 6 months each year.
An interesting phenomenon in Sweden (and some other parts of Scandinavia) is the seasonal change in the length of day and night. In midwinter, darkness prevails. Those dark days and nights are a Scandinavian phenomenon called The Polar Nights.
In midsummer, daylight takes over and there is barely any night darkness during June and July. The name for this is the Midnight Sun. Learn more about Scandinavia's Natural Phenomena!
To find out more about the weather during a specific month, visit Scandinavia by month which offers weather information, clothing tips and events for the month of your travel.
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