Finland nearly 1 degree warmer than usual in 2019

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is seen in the sky in Ivalo in Finnish Lapland in September 2019. The only region in the country that had overall normal weather in 2019 was Lapland, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute. (Alexander Kuznetsov/Reuters)
It was warmer and wetter last year than national averages, the Finnish Meteorological Institute reports.

Temperatures in Finland last year were warmer than normal, according to FMI, the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

On average across the country, temperatures in 2019 were around 0.9 degrees Celsius warmer than averages measured during the 1981-2010 period.

Last month, temperatures in Finland were around 3-6 degrees higher than usual. The only region in the country that had overall normal weather in 2019 was Lapland, according to the institute.

Finland’s lowest temperature recorded in 2019 was in the far north of Utsjoki on 5 February, when the mercury read -39.1 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the highest temperature was measured in the southern coastal city of Porvoo, where it hit 33.7 degrees on 28 July.

Stormy and rainy, but fewer thunderstorms

Weather-wise, 2019 started with a bang, when the south coast winter storm Aapeli caused widespread power cuts and train delays across the country.

The powerful storm hit its peak when wind speeds on the island weather station on Bogskär reached some 32.5 m/s while gust speeds reached as high as 41.6 m/s.

Even though the year began with a storm, 2019 did not see as many thunderstorms as in past years. About 87,000 lightning strikes hit the ground last year, while there were 130,000 bolts counted in 2018.

In many areas of the country, rainfall was also more plentiful last year, compared to recent averages. Precipitation amounts in central Lapland in December were roughly twice as high as normal, and in some areas of the region there was a record amount of snowfall, according to FMI.

Related stories from around the North:
Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Water levels unusually low across Beaufort Delta region, in northwestern Canada, CBC News

Finland: Cooler summer weather has positive effects in Finland, Yle News

Norway: Temperatures on Svalbard have been above normal for 100 straight months, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: June heat wave hits Northern Europe, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: Small fires break out due to dry conditions, Radio Sweden

United States: Temperatures nearing all-time records in Southcentral Alaska, Alaska Public Media

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