A warmer weather pattern is set to take hold across Finland this weekend, bringing widespread temperatures above 25°C before dry and sunny conditions become established next week.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) said forecasts indicate a shift away from the unsettled weather that has dominated much of early July, particularly in southern parts of the country.
Daytime temperatures are expected to exceed the 25°C threshold across many areas in southern and central Finland during the weekend.
The highest readings are forecast in the southeast, where temperatures could approach 30°C.
Northern Finland will remain more variable, with daytime temperatures ranging between 15°C and 25°C depending on location.
The FMI has issued warnings for oppressive heat in southern and eastern Finland during the weekend. The warning applies when the daily average temperature exceeds 20°C and daytime temperatures reach at least 27°C. The institute said these conditions could pose health risks for vulnerable groups.
Although warmer weather is expected to dominate, scattered showers and thunderstorms are still forecast in places during the weekend.
Sunday carries the highest risk of heavy downpours in southern Finland before strengthening high pressure brings drier conditions across the country early next week.
According to FMI meteorologist Oskari Rockas, current forecasts point to “widely sunny and summery” weather for much of next week.
Most areas are expected to see daytime temperatures between 23°C and 28°C, while parts of Lapland remain cooler.
Night-time temperatures are forecast to stay between 15°C and 20°C across much of the country, dropping to between 10°C and 18°C in northern Finland.
Foreca reported that the coming spell could become Finland’s longest run of hot weather so far this summer.
The longest continuous period of temperatures above 25°C this year has lasted six days, from 4 to 9 June. Finland has recorded 19 official heatwave days so far this summer.
Foreca said temperatures are expected to rise steadily from Friday, with heat spreading across much of the country during the weekend. Eastern Finland is forecast to be the warmest area on Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures reaching between 27°C and 29°C near the Russian border.
Despite the improving weather, isolated showers and thunderstorms are still expected to develop during the afternoons, particularly in southern and central Finland on Sunday and in parts of Lapland on Saturday.
The highest temperature recorded in Finland this summer remains 30.2°C, measured on 20 May in Tohmajärvi and Ilomantsi. Current forecasts do not clearly indicate temperatures exceeding that mark, although some locations could come close during the coming days, according to Foreca.
The warmer conditions follow an unusually wet start to July in southern Finland.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute said several observation stations have already exceeded the area’s typical monthly rainfall totals of 60 to 80 millimetres.
The highest total so far has been recorded at Rankki in Kotka, where about 113 millimetres of rain has fallen since the beginning of the month.
HT