Finland sizzles as Lapland sweats through 21-day heatwave
Lapland, best known for its reindeer and winter landscapes, experienced its longest heatwave on record last month, as Finland endured an exceptionally hot July.
The stretch began on July 11 and lasted until the end of the month, one of several heat records broken during July, the Finnish Meteorological Institute said.
The Meltosjärvi observation station in the Lapland municipality of Ylitornio logged a 21-day run of temperatures above 25°C — the longest in Lapland since records began in 1961.
But it wasn’t just the far north that was sweating.
In the southern and central regions of Finland, average temperatures ranged from 18°C to 21°C — 2-3 degrees above average.
In northern Finland, the monthly average was 14°C to 19°C, with most areas running 2–3°C warmer than usual, and around the Lapland municipalities of Inari and Utsjoki about 1–2°C warmer.
“As climate change progresses, periods of exceptionally sweltering heat will strengthen,” Heikki Tuomenvirta, Head of Group at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, said in a statement. “They will be more frequent, harsher and will last longer.”
Heat records fall as Finland bakes
From July 12, the day’s highest temperature somewhere in Finland topped 30°C for 20 days in a row — a new national record, beating the old mark of 13 days set in 1972, the FMI said.
The hottest reading came on July 31 at Oulu Airport, where the thermometer hit 32.6°C.
All told, there were 23 “hot days” — when temperatures topped 25°C somewhere in the country — seven more than usual for July.
“Heat warnings and preparedness for hot weather are aimed at reducing the harmful health effects especially among the older population and other groups vulnerable to hot weather,” Tuomenvirta said.
Storms, sunshine and uneven rainfall
Rainfall was uneven across the country: southern and western Finland saw normal or above-normal totals, while parts of Pirkanmaa, a region in south-central Finland, to Kainuu, a region on the eastern border, were unusually dry.
In Lapland, most areas had less than average rainfall, though Inari recorded the month’s highest total at Raja-Jooseppi, a border station near Russia, with 129.2 mm.
Storm Ulla hit Finland on July 3 with bringing strong winds, heavy rain and gusty conditions lasting 6–12 hours in many places.
Across the country, July was sunnier than usual, with 280–420 hours of sunshine logged at observation stations. Lightning strikes were slightly below average at 48,200, and most July thunderstorms were in Lapland — except for the final few days of the month.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Fort Simpson ‘warmer than Toronto’ for days as heat wave hits southern N.W.T., CBC News
Norway: Northern summer varies from unusually warm exceptionally warm, The Independent Barents Observer
