Sunny skies, temperatures above 10 degrees ahead for northern Finland
According to Yle meteorologist Toni Hellinen, this coming Sunday is forecast to be sunny over most of the country with temperatures ranging between 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Coastal areas can expect slightly cooler temperatures.
The weather on Wednesday and Thursday will remain cloudy and chilly with rain coming and going all across the country, says Hellinen.
Friday is likely to be the coolest day of the week with daytime temperatures in most of the country below 10C and snow forecast in the north.
Warmer air flowing in from the southwest on Saturday will raise temperatures in the south and west to the upper teens. Temperatures in coastal areas will not go up as much because sea waters are still so cold, explains Hellinen. Even while mostly sunny, changing temperatures are also likely to bring morning fog that may turn to haze later in the day.
Sunday’s weather is forecast to be clear and even warmer with those temperatures of up to 20C spreading out over most of the country, possibly passing the 20-degree mark in Ostrobothnia and western Finland, and well over 10C in large parts of Lapland.
Still time to ski
Although disappearing fast as temperatures rise, some parts of Finnish Lapland still have up to 80cm of snow cover.
While daytime temperatures in Lapland are already ranging between plus 5 and 10, over the next few days at least the thermometer will continue to dip below freezing at night.
Some ski centres, including those at Ruka and Levi, have announced that slopes will remain open until Sunday. Enthusiasts will be able to get in their final downhill runs of the season at Saariselkä on Mother’s Day, Sunday, 13 May.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Arctic: Record ice-loss, highest melt rate in 1,500 years, Radio Canada International
Finland: Finland’s roads crumble after worst thaw in 20 years, Yle News
Norway: As Arctic weather dramatically changes, world meteorologists take on more joint forecasting, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Record heatwave in the Arctic, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Melting snow brings floods to central Sweden, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska’s firefighters are ready for wildfire season, Alaska Public Media
