AI-generatedOulu at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Aug
- Warmest month
- Jul · 20°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 16.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,700 h
- Rain a year
- 599 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC+2 / UTC+3
- Elevation
- 15 m
Climate in Oulu
Oulu has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 20 °C, while February is the coolest at −6 °C. With around 1,700 hours of sunshine a year, Oulu is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 9.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: June – August
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 2°
- Midday, 13:00: about 5°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 5°
- Evening, 20:00: about 4°
- Night, 23:00: about 3°
08:0818:00
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:37–09:20 · evening 16:48–18:31
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:17–07:37 · evening 18:31–18:50
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Oulu in October?
In October, Oulu is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 7.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 9 h 52 min08:08 – 18:00
- UV index
- 0 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 18 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 77 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 2 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+3Europe/Helsinki
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %51 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Oulu
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 6.6 – 8.7 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Oulu ranges from −0.2 °C in February to 16.2 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to March the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 14.2 and 17.8 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | −0.1° | −0.4° | 0.4° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | −0.2° | −0.7° | 0.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | −0.1° | −0.4° | 0.2° | cold |
| AprilApr | 0.2° | −0.1° | 0.7° | cold |
| MayMay | 3.0° | 1.2° | 4.6° | cold |
| JuneJun | 10.8° | 7.5° | 14.6° | cold |
| JulyJul | 15.9° | 13.7° | 19.0° | cold |
| AugustAug | 16.2° | 14.2° | 17.8° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 12.7° | 11.0° | 13.9° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 7.6° | 6.6° | 8.7° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 3.3° | 2.0° | 4.9° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 0.8° | −0.1° | 2.0° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Oulu
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 2.2 of 9.9 hours of daylight in Oulu, 22 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Oulu
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 0 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 5).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- over 2 h
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Oulu: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Oulu has about 11 rainy days with 55 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Oulu
How breezy and how cloudy Oulu is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Oulu typically peaks at 18 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 77 % of the sky over Oulu: mostly cloudy, with about 2.2 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Snow in Oulu
When Oulu is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, Oulu has about 2 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 7 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 21 out of 100: possible.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Oulu
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 2°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in January (−10°), the warmest in July (14°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to May, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 19 | −6° | −10° | −0.1° | 0.5 h | 9 | 36 |
| FebruaryFeb | 21 | −6° | −10° | −0.2° | 2.4 h | 8 | 32 |
| MarchMar | 28 | −2° | −7° | −0.1° | 4.7 h | 8 | 29 |
| AprilApr | 35 | 4° | −3° | 0.2° | 6.9 h | 8 | 32 |
| MayMay | 51 | 11° | 4° | 3.0° | 8.4 h | 10 | 49 |
| JuneJun | 80 | 17° | 10° | 10.8° | 9.6 h | 10 | 58 |
| JulyJul | 81 | 20° | 14° | 15.9° | 8.9 h | 13 | 83 |
| AugustAug | 75 | 18° | 12° | 16.2° | 6.9 h | 13 | 75 |
| SeptemberSep | 44 | 13° | 8° | 12.7° | 4.4 h | 11 | 58 |
| OctoberOct | 15 | 5° | 2° | 7.6° | 2.2 h | 11 | 55 |
| NovemberNov | 16 | 1° | −3° | 3.3° | 0.8 h | 11 | 47 |
| DecemberDec | 15 | −3° | −7° | 0.8° | 0.0 h | 11 | 44 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
65.01° N, 25.47° E · 15 m · Europe/Helsinki
Best time to visit Oulu
The best time to visit Oulu is from June to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 16.2 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June. Rain is most frequent from July to August; the wettest month is July with 83 mm.
Oulu through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Oulu in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- -2–11 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days in all
Oulu in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 17–20 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Oulu in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 1–13 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Oulu in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- -6–-3 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 1 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Oulu for you.
Your best months: July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Oulu
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Oulu: score 81 against 15. In July, days are 15 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 8 °C warmer in July. July has 2 more rainy days. The sun shines 7 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 15 | 81better |
| Day high | 5° | 20° |
| Night low | 2° | 14° |
| Sea | 7.6° | 15.9° |
| Sunshine | 2.2 h | 8.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 11better | 13 |
| Rainfall | 55 mmbetter | 83 mm |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Nov – Apr
Snow on 2 or more days
Oulu month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
19January-6° · Sea 0° · 1 h
In January, Oulu is freezing cold: daytime highs average −6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−10 °C). The sea averages −0.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 9 days, totalling 36 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in January21February-6° · Sea 0° · 2 h
In February, Oulu is freezing cold: daytime highs average −6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−10 °C). The sea averages −0.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 8 days, totalling 32 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in February28March-2° · Sea 0° · 5 h
In March, Oulu is freezing cold: daytime highs average −2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sea averages −0.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 8 days, totalling 29 mm. Snow falls on about 6 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in March35April4° · Sea 0° · 7 h
In April, Oulu is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sea averages 0.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 32 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in April51May11° · Sea 3° · 8 h
In May, Oulu is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 3.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 49 mm in total. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in May80June17° · Sea 11° · 10 h
In June, Oulu is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 10.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in June81July20° · Sea 16° · 9 h
In July, Oulu is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 15.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in July75August18° · Sea 16° · 7 h
In August, Oulu is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 75 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in August44September13° · Sea 13° · 4 h
In September, Oulu is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in September15October5° · Sea 8° · 2 h
In October, Oulu is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 7.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in October16November1° · Sea 3° · 1 h
In November, Oulu is freezing cold: daytime highs average 1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sea averages 3.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 11 days, totalling 47 mm. Snow falls on about 6 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in November15December-3° · Sea 1° · 0 h
In December, Oulu is freezing cold: daytime highs average −3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sea averages 0.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 0 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 11 days, totalling 44 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Oulu.
Oulu in DecemberOulu compared
Put Oulu side by side with another destination.
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Oulu vs. Rovaniemi
In October the holiday weather in Oulu and Rovaniemi is about equally good (score 15 vs. 15). During the day Rovaniemi is 1 °C cooler than Oulu.
| in October | Oulu | Rovaniemi |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 15 | 15 |
| Daytime high | 5° | 4° |
| Sea | 8° | – |
| Sunshine | 2 h | 2 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 11 |
| Best time | Jun – Aug | Jun – Aug |
Through the year
Finland in October: the best places
In October, Oulu ranks 5 of 7 destinations in this country.
- Turku9°11°19
- 2Espoo9°11°17
- 3Rovaniemi4°16
- 4Helsinki9°11°16
- 5OuluThis page5°8°15
- 6Vaasa7°9°11
- 7Porvoo8°11°10
Planning a trip to Oulu
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Oulu in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Oulu has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 77) and its weakest during October half-term (score 15).
- 33
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 2 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 57
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 5 °C
- 8.6 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 77
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 19 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 7.6 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 15
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 2.2 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 17
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −4 °C by day
- Sea 0 °C
- 0.3 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 3 h
- Distance
- 2,110 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Oulu
When is the best time to visit Oulu?
The best time to visit Oulu is from June to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Oulu?
The sea temperature in Oulu ranges from −0.2 °C in February to 16.2 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Oulu in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 7.6 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Oulu?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C and nights around 14 °C. February is the coolest month at −6 °C.
When does it rain most in Oulu?
Rain is most frequent from July to August; the wettest month is July with 83 mm. The driest month is March with 29 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Oulu get?
Oulu gets around 1,700 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 9.6 hours a day; in December there are 0.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Oulu in?
Oulu uses the time zone Europe/Helsinki: UTC+2 in January and UTC+3 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Oulu?
A nonstop flight from London to Oulu takes about 3 h, for a straight-line distance of about 2,110 km.
Which school holidays are best for Oulu?
Oulu has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 77) and its weakest during October half-term (score 15). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 33, May half-term 57, Summer holidays 77, October half-term 15, Christmas holidays 17.
Near Oulu
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Oulu
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Oulu's – good alternatives.