A South African’s guide to Winter in Norway

For a newly arrived South African, winter in Norway is mostly about surviving the weather.

Temperature scale

This scale has been adjusted to how a South African thinks Norwegians feel about the cold (and how I should be feeling about the cold). Anything below 12°C is a bit chilly where I’m from.

Above o°C: Not Winter.
0°C: Balmy.
-5°C: Pleasant for some brisk outdoor activity.
-10°C: Slightly uncomfortable. Remember to keep moving fingers and toes.
-15°C: Moisture in nostrils may freeze. Limit exposure.
-20°C: COLD. COLDCOLDCOLDCOLDCOLD. Avoid.

I have not had the misfortune of experiencing anything below -20°C, so that’s where my scale stops (for now).

My most important rule of thumb for the cold is: keep moving.

Some good clothing is required for these climes and this scale might not be taking the effect of some other weather elements into consideration…

Weather — good or bad?

Wind: bad
Snow: good
Snow+wind: could go either way, but mostly good
Slush (melted snow): bad
Ice: really, really bad
Ice rain/pellets: definitely bad
Humidity: bad, bad and more bad

Clothing

Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!

I have already shown how unNorwegian I am by pointing out weather as bad, because there’s a saying here “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. There’s definitely bad clothing for these temperatures, so here’s my guide.

I use the layering technique (base, a few inners and an outer layer) and even use it for my gloves and socks. Shoes should have good soles and good inner layers for warmth (looks fluffy on the inside). You can also use waterproofing spray on your shoes. Remember your hat and scarf!

Textile guide —

Wool: might feel scratchy, but it’s good. It can continue to keep you warm even when wet (but try not to get wet in winter).
Merino wool: do recommend! Most of my base layers are 100% Merino wool.
Acrylic: might feel comfortable but not good for extremes. Could work for inner layers or mixed with another textile.
Cotton: not very warm. Combine with other textiles or layers.
Fleece: good for inner layers as it provides warmth and is comfortable.
Gore-Tex (or similar): good for outer layer as it’s water- and windproof, but won’t provide much warmth so inner layers are required.