Different parts of the arctic and sub-arctic experience some very different weather conditions.
Finland 🇫🇮
Our experience of Finnish Lapland is one of consistentxh with some fascinating occasional variables. As the above shows, even in the depths of January, daytime conditions can be quite consistent (although in this case, night temperatures fell to around -9 degrees).
The range during winter months is around -16 to +3 degrees, with an average temperature of around -8 degrees.
The clear and bright days are by far the coldest. Cloud cover and snowfall insulates against the coldest weather and can cause low temperatures to rise quite quickly and settle at around zero. It is suggested that Finland has 22 billion trees - quite incredibly, around 4,500 per person - and helpful for creating some shelter.
Conditions are typically quite settled, with very little wind (and therefore less impact of wind chill which makes a big difference as anybody who's been to New York in winter may attest). We've seldom seen anything other than a breeze that gently whistles between the trees and barely unsettles the snow covering. The only challenge with this is that clouds don't blow over very quickly in Finnish Lapland,
When it gets really cold, however, the temperatures can plummet dramatically, with -28 degrees at 08.00 in the morning in the example below:
We've experienced -30 degrees celcius in the early hours of the morning whilst aurora hunting - the kind of temperature that almost permeates jackets, clothing, hats and gloves and can leave you feeling quickly fatigued. Good clothing, hot drinks and a roaring fire help - as does limiting exposure by heading back indoors.
Yet within a few days, the temperature was close to zero again, All part of the arctic experience! Remember the scandi saying:
Iceland 🇮🇸
Iceland is a different beast altogether. We've never seen such a changeable environment! Perhaps the lack of wildlife is quite telling given that expansive spaces and variable whether can create some incredibly harsh conditions.
We've witnessed some of the most incredible weather changes all within the space of a few hours in Iceland - from glorious clear sunny skies, to howling gales on a volcanic black sand beach to snowfall that is so heavy it could quickly have you turning around and heading back to the safety of your vehicle or accommodation, with snow blowing over roads and reducing visibility close to nothing.
Yet incredibly the average temperature over winter is typically around zero despite Iceland experiencing record lows of nearly -40 degrees. It's worth remembering that Iceland has very few trees and is therefore not particularly sheltered in rural areas. Expect clouds and moody skies as a feature of your Iceland experience.
There's also a clue in the name - ice makes footpaths and roads a lively experience! Wind chill is also a consideration - in Iceland, what feels cold can suddenly feel a whole lot colder when the wind chill is taken into account.
But again - dressing for the conditions is the most important thing to consider. When the days are clear, they are spectacular - and certainly not warm enough to melt the ice...
It's also worth remembering that the time of year can make all the difference. During an October trip to Iceland the temperature was around +7 degrees and only fell below zero on the odd occasion. So nothing more than jacket, jeans and boots needed for the warm blooded types!
You may also hear mention of the fact it has to be super cold to see the aurora. This in itself isn't true, but is likely to be a consequence of clear night skies increasing the chance of seeing the aurora - meaning that temperature will be on the lower end of the scale.
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