Weather forecast for the Kungsleden in May

May on Kungsleden feels unsettled and transitional. Cloud cover is common, with frequent showers that swing between snow, sleet, and rain depending on elevation, while clear windows do appear. Temperatures run from cold in the high fells to cool or even mild in sheltered southern valleys. Expect big contrasts over short distances, with the weather shifting quickly but rarely staying severe all day.

Forecast settings

Start date
May 1
Start town
Abisko
End date
May 28
End town
Hemavan
Units
metric (°C, mm, km)
Customize this forecastSwitch to imperial units (°F, in, mi)
Total days
28
Total distance
421 km
Daily distance
15.0 km
Average high
5°C
Average low
-1°C
Average precipitation
2.1 mm/day

Starting in the far north, the trail stays wintry. Days are often overcast with frequent light to moderate snowfall, and only brief sunny breaks. Air feels cold, and fresh snow showers can come and go even at valley level.

As you move past the high passes toward Sälka and Singi, the sky remains changeable. Snow showers still dominate in the fells, while lower stretches mix sleet and occasional rain, with short clearer spells between bands of cloud. It can swing quickly from dry, gray hours to bursts of falling snow.

Through the central valleys and lakes around Sitojaure, Aktse, and Kvikkjokk, May brings a tug‑of‑war between late snow and early spring. Many days stay cloudy with light rain or drizzle, but brighter interludes grow longer, and some afternoons feel noticeably milder. Cold pulses still flip the precipitation back to wet snow, especially overnight and on higher ground.

South of Jäkkvik toward Ammarnäs and Hemavan, the pattern turns more springlike overall, with more rain showers than snow at lower elevations and occasional sunny, warm spells. High plateaus such as Syter and Viterskalet remain fickle, bringing bursts of heavy, wet snow on cooler days before clearing again. Temperatures span around freezing in exposed high ground to the low teens Celsius on milder southern days.

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