Summer heat is set to return to Finland next weekend after rain and cooler temperatures move across the country early this week, according to weather service Foreca.

Monday will bring rain to several regions as a low-pressure system approaches Finland from the west. Temperatures will then fall, with much of the country staying below 20°C around the middle of the week.

Warm air will start moving into Finland from the south on Friday. Foreca expects a hot air mass to reach the country during the weekend, with temperatures in southern Finland having a chance of reaching the Finnish heatwave threshold of 25.1°C on both Saturday and Sunday.

Before another period of heat arrives, much of the country faces several cooler days.

Rain began in Lapland on Monday morning as low pressure approached from the west. During the day, a broader area of rain was forecast to spread into western Finland and North Ostrobothnia before moving east in the evening.

The more continuous rainfall is expected to move out of Finland towards the east during Tuesday night.

Daytime temperatures on Monday are forecast to remain above 20°C in southern and eastern Finland, while Lapland will see readings below 15°C.

Tuesday and Wednesday will bring gusty north-westerly winds and lower temperatures. Afternoon showers are expected in several areas on Tuesday, with some showers continuing in eastern Finland on Wednesday.

Sunny periods will become more common despite the cooler air.

Daytime temperatures are expected to range from 15°C to 20°C across much of Finland on Tuesday and Wednesday. Northern areas will remain cooler, with temperatures between 10°C and 15°C.

Thursday is forecast to bring dry and sunny conditions to much of the country as winds weaken. Temperatures will remain close to Wednesday’s levels before the weather pattern changes on Friday.

Warm air will then begin moving north from southern Europe.

Rain will approach northern Finland from the west ahead of the warmer air, while cloud cover is expected to increase in other parts of the country. Winds will turn south-westerly.

By the weekend, the warmer air mass is forecast to extend into Finland.

Southern Finland is expected to remain mostly dry. Central and northern parts of the country face a greater chance of thunderstorms and showers as the warm air meets other weather systems.

HT