Learning to Get Outside In Most Conditions
Breezy conditions in Norway are not what I expected
When a local asks, “How are you liking Norway?” We typically reply, “It’s treating us well so far. The biggest adjustment has been the weather, particularly the wind.” A slight breeze in Norway means something different than what we were used to in the US. Currently my weather app is describing 18 mph winds as a “fresh breeze.” Coming from Utah, we are no strangers to snow and colder temperatures, but of all the places we have lived throughout the United States, none of them had windy conditions like we have experienced here on the west coast of Norway.
We live on a relatively flat peninsula situated between Trondheim Fjord and the Norwegian Sea. This means we get some wind off of the fjord and a lot of wind from the Norwegian Sea, and it is persistent. The windy season lasts for six months from October to April. During this time, average wind speeds are around 8.5 mph with gusts up to 85+ mph (according to weatherspark.com). July is the calmest month with average wind speeds of 5.8 mph. These winds make it difficult for us to want to get outside, especially with a toddler and now newborn, but we try.
To give a better idea of what the weather is like in our area, I found this quote from weatherspark.com particularly enlightening, “the summers are short, cool, wet, and mostly cloudy, and the winters are long, very cold, snowy, windy, and overcast.” What a description, huh?
This weather pattern has really taught us to appreciate calm, sunny days and how to dress for less than ideal conditions. As the Norwegians say «Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær» meaning, “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” We are working to adopt this philosophy.
A couple of weeks ago, we took advantage of the slightly longer days and decided to cook a late lunch outside over the fire. We all bundled up and got outside. While my husband built the fire and cooked our chili dogs, my toddler and I played outside and sat by the fire with thermoses of hot chocolate in hand. It was a little windier than we expected, so we pivoted and sat on our sun porch to eat our hotdogs. Our toddler loved every minute of it, and we learned the Norwegians are onto something with their saying. We can still enjoy some time outside, even when the weather is not perfect. We just need to stay closer to home right now so we can adjust plans as needed.
We of course will play it safe and not go out when the wind gusts are too strong, but we are attempting to take more afternoon walks even in the cold, dark winters. It’s paying off too. Last week we bundled up for a later afternoon walk during sunset and saw the most spectacular Northern Lights show we have seen since moving. We would have missed this experience if we used the cold weather as an excuse to stay indoors. Our toddler appreciated the experience as well and kept saying, “Look, the sky is dancing!” It was a memorable moment for all of us.
