Spring weather is advancing rapidly across Finland, with temperatures expected to rise close to 15°C later this week as sunshine returns after a brief cooler spell.
According to Foreca meteorologist Kristian Roine, the mild conditions that dominated the weekend will continue through the coming days, although temperatures will dip slightly before warming again toward the end of the week.
Over the weekend, southern and eastern parts of Finland experienced unusually warm conditions for early March.
Warm and dry air moved northwards, bringing sunshine across large parts of the country.
The highest temperature on Saturday was recorded at Kalbådagrund in Porvoo, where the mercury reached 13.2°C. Parikkala in eastern Finland recorded 12.5°C. By Sunday afternoon, temperatures had climbed to 11°C in Tampere, while several other weather stations also reported readings above 10°C.
The mild weather has rapidly reduced the snow cover in many areas. According to snow depth measurements on Sunday morning, large parts of southern and western Finland were already snow-free.
In some areas the snowpack has decreased by as much as 20 centimetres within a week.
Northern Finland remains largely covered by snow. In Lapland, snow depths still range between 50 and 80 centimetres.
The early part of the week will bring mostly dry conditions across the country. On Monday and Tuesday skies will vary between cloudy and sunny, and most regions will remain without significant precipitation.
Forecasts say a few light showers are possible in southern and central Finland late Monday and during Tuesday night, though rainfall amounts are expected to remain minimal.
On Wednesday, scattered rain and snow showers are forecast to move across northern Finland toward the east, while southern regions are expected to stay dry.
Daytime temperatures during the first half of the week will generally remain around 5°C across much of the country. In the sunniest parts of southern and central Finland, temperatures could approach 10°C.
Northern regions will remain cooler. In parts of Lapland, temperatures may stay below freezing during the day, particularly on Monday.
Night-time frost is expected across Finland during clear periods, although forecasts say temperatures will not drop to unusually low levels.
Conditions are expected to change later in the week as a high-pressure system moves over Finland and warmer air arrives from the west.
Cloud cover is forecast to decrease gradually on Thursday, with sunny weather expected across most of the country on Friday and during the weekend.
The weather is expected to remain largely dry, with only light rain or sleet possible in the far north of Lapland.
Temperatures will rise during this period, with southern and central Finland likely to see daytime readings above 10°C. According to the latest forecasts, the warmest day may occur on Sunday, when temperatures in some areas could approach 15°C.
Roine said the improving conditions will continue to accelerate the spring thaw across southern parts of the country.
HT