Wildfire warnings still in effect as far north as western Lapland
Finland’s long warm spell is coming to an end, says Yle meteorologist Matti Huutonen. Thursday could be the first day in two weeks with temperatures remaining below 25 degrees Celsius throughout the country.
Temperatures at or above 25 degrees Celsius will likely be measured in many places through Thursday. Then the warm weather that has prevailed for a couple of weeks is set to end. The temperature has exceeded 25C somewhere in Finland every day since May 22.
On Thursday, there will sunshine in many areas, as well as showers and thunderstorms. In the eastern region of North Karelia, the temperature may climb to about 26 degrees, while in the west the mercury will only hover around 20C. Overnight lows range from 6 to 15 degrees, with a chance of frost in some northern areas.
On Friday, temperatures will remain below 20 degrees. Readings will be around 15 degrees in the north and 17–22 degrees in the south. Nighttime temperatures will also drop.
This weekend, a low pressure system will approach Finland from the west.
There’s a risk of frost in Northern Finland and in the Suomenselkä region of western Finland. Huutonen notes that there was frost in Ylivieska, Northern Ostrobothnia, early Wednesday.
“Back to normal June readings”
Showers are expected on Saturday, especially in southern and central Finland, as well as some northern areas. On Sunday, the weather will be even more unsettled than on Saturday, with steadier rain across a broader area.
“We’re getting back to normal June readings,” Huutonen says, adding that the average daily temperature in Finland in early June is around 18 degrees.
Wildfire warnings are still in effect through nearly all of southern and central Finland and as far north as Pello in western Finnish Lapland. There is also a warning of strong winds off the southwest coast.
Huutonen says that the fire warnings remain in effect due to the lingering impact of the nearly rainless month of May in many areas, with some only receiving spotty precipitation since then.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Be wary of thin ice amid mild weather conditions, says hunter in Fort Smith, N.W.T., CBC News
Finland: Military exercise apparently disrupts weather images from Lapland, Yle News
United States: Arctic weather satellite leaving Europe for June launch in U.S., Eye on the Arctic
