Finland braces for first autumn storm
Finland is about to experience its first autumn storm, which could lash parts of the country with high winds starting on Thursday evening, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) reports.
Winds will gradually intensify throughout Thursday and Friday, likely escalating into stormy conditions along nearly all coastal areas on Saturday.
Yle meteorologists estimate that inland wind speeds will reach around 20 meters per second (72 km/h).
The week’s unusually mild temperatures will continue into the weekend as well, with temperatures reaching around 20 degrees Celsius in sunnier areas of the south on Friday and Saturday.
Rainy in north, windy in south and west
Saturday will also likely be rainy in many areas, but most of the precipitation is expected in northern areas. Yle’s meteorology department said however that the cloud cover will vary greatly, and the sun could make periodic appearances over the next few days.
Winds will begin to pick up towards the end of the day on Thursday, prompting high wind warnings for areas across southern and western Finland.
Saturday will be the stormiest day of the windy weekend, and the FMI has issued warnings for stiff winds in the west, including the regions of northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu.
The FMI said that most of Finland’s sea areas could see storm conditions on Saturday and that windy conditions will likely continue on Sunday.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Wettest August in decades in Dawson City, northwestern Canada, CBC News
Finland: Finland’s drought ends with violent storms, YLE News
Norway: Arctic Europe’s July records melted under extreme temperatures, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russian and American scientists team up to study Arctic Russia’s weakening sea ice, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Hot, arid summer guts a third of Sweden’s cereal harvest, Radio Sweden
United States: Anchorage, Alaska battered by strong winds, Alaska Public Media
