Cool Midsummer in store for Finland
Although the weather warmed up slightly on Friday, it will be a cooler than usual Midsummer.
Traditional Midsummer bonfires get the go-ahead from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, as there are no forest fire warnings in the country.
The weather warmed up slightly on Friday. On Midsummer Eve, temperatures should rise close to 20 degrees Celsius, or up to around 18 to 19 degrees in southern and central parts of the country. Bonfires will heat up much chillier evenings up north, however, where sleet fell in places on Friday morning.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasts rain in Ostrobothnia, and central and northern Lapland, where precipitation may also come down as sleet. During Friday, belts of precipitation will move west to east, as well as from the north down towards the south.
Unusually cold Midsummer
The weather on Saturday, or Midsummer Day, will continue as unstable, with a dip in temperatures from Friday.
Statistically the Midsummer looks set to be cooler than usual. The last time midsummer was as cold as this was in 2009, when temperatures in the south struggled to hit 15 degrees.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Tiny Arctic town’s weather site approaches 1 millionth hit, CBC News
Finland: Cold weather causes dazzling light displays in Finland, Yle News
Sweden: Warm weather threatens Sweden’s Vasaloppet ski race, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska’s future looks more rainy, less snowy: study, Alaska Dispatch
