The year’s first summer weekend, spring rush and the May 17 weather

Summer arrived like a bullet, and it will remain so throughout the week. And even better: the meteorologists are already predicting a possibility of 20 degrees on 17 May.

“I love Norwegian summer, it’s the best day of the year”.

It’s only been a few weeks since it snowed. Now, according to experts, so many degrees of heat have been reported that this first wave of summer will be experienced as a big festival.

The sun is the draw, and listen to this hit parade of a few degrees of heat: 23, 23, 22, 19!

… and the extra numbers on Monday and Tuesday aren’t that bad either: 16 degrees on Monday, 18 on Tuesday.

Festbremsen rainfall has also taken an early summer holiday. But one summer’s day doesn’t make a summer after all, as the saying goes (not) says. What about May ahead?

Look out for nice weather

Håkon Mjelstad is a meteorologist on duty and summer weather enthusiast. He reports the weather, and his first forecast for Aftenposten about the weather in Eastern Norway is based on basic logic.

– Yes, now the weather is nice. You just have to look out the window, says Mjelstad at the Meteorological Institute.

Bob Dylan sang both that the answer is flapping in the wind and that you don’t need a meteorologist to know where the wind is blowing. In other words, we have to go even deeper.

– In Eastern and Western Norway, we have the finest days now and early at the weekend. Later, a bit of stormy weather sneaks in and it gets a bit cooler, says Mjelstad.

This observation was made via the computer. And precisely these machines for the institute have become more powerful. They recently launched an ultra-long-term forecast with forecasts a full 21 days into the future.

So, as a sort of pre-premiere: What will the weather be like on May 17?

– There is great uncertainty around this, says Mjelstad.

But?

– On 17 May, if you divide the country in two, there will be good bunad weather in the south: So around 15-16 degrees. It is by no means impossible that it will be 20 degrees in some places either. In the north, there is also good warm weather (read: cool) with good opportunities for stormy weather. Very much to be “abide” in the weather if it’s going to be 20 degrees here, says Mjelstad.

– In the far north, it looks worse with a northerly wind. It can be relentless at this time of year

It wasn’t that bad after all. And with such temperatures, the Norwegian summer is already longer than was initially joked about.

Year after spring

Mjelstad also believes that Norwegians are a little extra sick of the weather at the moment. And yes, this forecast is also based on this somewhat unscientific look-out-of-the-window method.

– Norwegians are preoccupied with spring. This year, people seem quite ready for spring now that it first hits. This year there has also been a cold winter and a somewhat slow and awkward spring. When it finally clears, you want to enjoy the weather, go out in the park and work as little as possible.

But maybe there is something in it? We need to check with someone who knows a little more about people’s souls.

Happiness and life

Sun rays and light are energy in motion. Although we humans are not solar cells after all, it is easy to feel extra “charged” these days.

And there are many good reasons for that.

– There are so many things that are connected with spring: Joy, positivity and more energy. We are more social and are more outdoorsy. Våryre, says Ragnhild Bang Nes.

Aftenposten has several times referred to her as a happiness researcher simply because she researches exactly happiness. She says there are several good reasons why the mood is so lifted this spring.

But the main reason is not the sun alone. No, it is the change from winter that is important.

– Transitions and changes bring an increase in happiness in themselves. Very simple tricks for happiness, is to seek change. Something as simple as treating the weekend as a mini-vacation or taking a new route home from work works. After all, spring is a violent transition: the heat is coming, nature is blooming and we are reminded that we are approaching holidays and recovery. And much more, says Bang Nes.