Record average September temperatures stretch into Northern Finland
Record average September temperatures stretched from the southern part of Finland into Central Lapland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI)’s most recent data shows.
Northern Lapland also experienced temperatures the FMI characterized as “exceptionally high” in a statement.
“The average temperature in September varied between approximately 16 degrees Celsius on the southern coast to just under 8 degrees in the northwest of Finnish Lapland,” it said.
“The deviation from the average for the 1991–2020 reference period was largely 2–3 degrees Celsius warmer.”
- Highest Temperature: 24.1 C on Sept. 12 at Kouvola Utti Lentoportintie observation station in southern Finland
- Lowest Temperature: -5.9 C on Sept. 15 at at the Savukoski Tulppio observation station in northern Finland
- Highest precipitation for month: 179.4 mm in Paljakka, Puolanka in central Finland.
- Lowest precipitation for month: 19.4 mm in Utö, Parainen in southern Finland
The average September temperature was 12.2 C for the country, something the FMI said hadn’t been recorded before.
“This is the highest average temperature in September in the measuring history beginning from the start of the 20th century,” the institute said.
“The previous average temperature record for September is from 1934 when September was 0.4 degrees Celsius colder than September this year.”
High precipitation levels in North, early snow
While the 80–170 hours of sunshine recorded in September for the country was typical for Finland, precipitation levels recorded in the North were considered exceptional.
“September was exceptionally rainy in most parts of Finnish Lapland,” the FMI said.
“In addition, the precipitation levels were rare in many places in the central part of the country, Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, even exceptionally high in some places.”
Lapland also experienced earlier snow fall this year than usual.
“[First snow fell in Finland] typically falls in Central and Northern Lapland at the turn of September and October,” the FMI said.
“The first snow recorded in statistics fell in the area extending from Enontekiö to Inari on the morning of 20 September. At that time, the snow depth recorded in Kenttärova, Kittilä was as high as 23 cm.”
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Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Hot and dry July saw temperature records topple in the Yukon, CBC News
Greenland: Alarming, above-average ice loss in Greenland due to rising temperatures, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Polar heat record. July average above 10°C, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: High risk of wildfires in many parts of Sweden, including North, Radio Sweden
United States: Bursting ice dam in Alaska highlights risks of glacial flooding around the globe, The Associated Press
