Brief summer warmth arrives in southern Norway before cold snap returns

A short-lived taste of summer will bring temperatures near 20°C to parts of southern and eastern Norway this week, but a sharp cooldown is expected by the weekend, according to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Forecasters predict Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will see the warmest conditions, with Notodden, Gvarv, Grimstad, Oslo, Drammen, and Kongsberg among the areas most likely to reach summer-like temperatures. “It will be a few warm days—some places may even hit 20 degrees,” duty meteorologist Siri Wiberg told Dagbladet.

The warmth stems from a high-pressure system west of Norway, drawing in air that has traveled from southern Europe. However, the mild spell will be brief. “From the latter part of the week, a strong low-pressure system will move into northern Norway, bringing colder air and north winds,” Wiberg said.

By the weekend, temperatures in the south will drop back to 10–12°C, though sunshine is expected to persist in many eastern areas. The meteorologist described the shift as “typical April weather,” with dry conditions raising the risk of grass and heather fires in some regions.

The forecast marks a reversal of recent patterns: while northern Norway has enjoyed prolonged sunshine, southern regions faced poor weekend weather. “Now it’s flipping—southern Norway gets the fine weather, while the north sees deterioration,” Wiberg noted. Northern areas can expect cloudier skies, onshore winds, periods of rain, and even snow at higher elevations by the weekend.

Comparisons to Gran Canaria’s 19°C forecast for Thursday circulated in Norwegian media, though Wiberg cautioned against overstating the warmth. “We can at least enjoy summer-like weather—there’s no need to travel away these days,” she said.