Much of Norway’s eyes are on this weekend’s weather forecasts, and many are eagerly anticipating a good forecast for Christmas Eve.
The good news for those hoping for a white Christmas, or Christmas Eve in the case of most Norwegians, is that they are likely in for a treat.
“North of Stad and Dovre, snow showers are expected towards the weekend. In some places, there may also be snow showers on Christmas Eve. It is the very best Christmas weather, a little snow in the air and dry snow on the ground,” Martin Granerød, a meteorologist, told the Norwegian news wire NTB.
The exception to this, Meteorologene told NTB, will be on Norway’s west coast.
The days leading up to Christmas Eve will be characterised by cold weather, with most of the country also plunged into the minus degrees on December 24th.
With the temperatures dipping below zero, snow that has fallen across much of Norway is guaranteed to remain until Christmas Eve.
Although, this means that some snow that has melted and frozen back over will become harder in eastern and southern Norway.
“There has been snow there that has melted. When it gets colder again, it will freeze. That will lead to some hard snow,” Granerød said.
However, milder weather and precipitation will begin to rear their head from Christmas weather, which means that snow will turn to rain in coastal areas.
Norwegian newspaper VG also reports that much of the country will see good weather. However, forecasters told the paper that the good weather is unlikely to last beyond Christmas Eve.
“Christmas Eve is the best day. It won’t be nice for long,” meteorologist Tone Christin Thaule told VG.
From Christmas Day, a low pressure with warm air will sweep over southern Norway likely raising temperatures as a result.
“It starts as snow and turns to rain, at least in the coastal areas,” Thaule said.