Norway After an Exceptionally Wet Start to August, With Forecasters Predicting Drier, Sunnier Weather and Temperatures Around 20 Degrees

I've heard rumors of grumbling and bad moods, but that could be about to change now, said on-duty meteorologist Charalampos Sarchosidis at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Some morning fog and isolated afternoon showers may appear inland, but the overall picture is clearly improved. "It's better than what people have had in recent weeks.

And that says something, Sarchosidis said. Several places in western Norway have received as much rain in the first two weeks of August as they normally get in an entire month. "Too bad for them that temperatures rose only after the holidays ended.

The timing is poor in that sense, but hopefully it will lift spirits anyway, he said. Sarchosidis believes the weather shift could have effects far beyond the thermometer: "I predict a risk of more smiles in western Norway. He has noticed the region's dissatisfaction with the summer.

"It seems westerners have forgotten where they live. Maybe they need to learn from northerners and say, 'we know where we live. The meteorologist himself would consider heading west in the coming week: "Maybe I'll go for western Norway.

Not all the way out on the coast, but a bit further into the fjords it will be very nice. Northerners have less to cheer about. In Finnmark, it will be mostly cloudy — though without much rain.

In Troms, rain may drift in from Finland and Sweden. Wednesday and Friday could be fine, but Sarchosidis struggles to sell the rest of the forecast: "I'm trying to find bright spots, but it's difficult. In Nordland, there will be periods of rain, but temperatures will rise to around 15–17 degrees.

Sarchosidis thinks the past years' fine summers may have made this year's grey weather harder to swallow. "People have had three great summers in a row, and then maybe they've forgotten what's normal in the north. He has experienced both extremes this summer: "I've been at the Buktafestivalen in Tromsø in pouring rain and eight degrees, and I've been at Tons of Rock with blazing heat and way too warm.

Neither was particularly pleasant. In eastern and southern Norway, temperatures continue around 20–22 degrees with plenty of sun, but also a risk of local afternoon showers. "Not southern-European heat and cloudless skies, but I'd still call it good weather conditions, Sarchosidis said.

The challenge there has rather been a lack of rain: "In southern and eastern Norway it's almost been too dry. We could almost have used more rain than we've had. The forest fire risk remains in eastern Norway south of Mjøsa and in eastern parts of Agder, with no significant rain in sight. For those who like swimming, one should head to the Oslofjord, while for those who enjoy a mountain trip, western Norway will probably stand out, he said.