Southern Finland recorded its coldest night of the winter as temperatures fell to -31.5°C in Lappeenranta early on Friday. Clear skies allowed the cold to intensify in large parts of the country, with severe frost reported across southern, central and northern areas.
Foreca meteorologist Joanna Rinne writes that the reading in Lappeenranta Konnunsuo was the lowest of the season so far for the region. Other low figures included -29.3°C in Vihti, -26.7°C in Hyvinkää, and -25.3°C both in Helsinki-Vantaa and Salo Kärkkä. All were the coldest of the winter at their respective stations.
Across central Finland, cloud cover prevented similarly sharp drops. Temperatures there remained between -15°C and -20°C overnight.
In Lapland, readings below -30°C were widespread. The lowest temperature nationally was -35.6°C, measured at Utsjoki Kevo Kevojärvi. The coldest reading of the winter remains -42.8°C, recorded in Tulppio, Savukoski, on 9 January.
Dry and frosty weather will persist nationwide through the weekend, with the lowest temperatures still expected during clear nights.
A notable change is forecast for northern Lapland, where south-westerly winds will strengthen on Saturday. The gusty conditions will combine with already low temperatures of -15°C to -20°C, producing harsher apparent temperatures.
In Saariselkä, the wind chill is forecast to push the “feels like” temperature to -37°C on Saturday morning, despite the actual air temperature being around -27°C. The figure includes the effects of wind and humidity on human perception of cold.
Elsewhere, cloudier areas may see light snowfall, but most of the country will remain dry. In southern and central Finland, daytime temperatures will range from -15°C to -25°C over the weekend. In Lapland, the thermometer is expected to stay between -20°C and -30°C during the day on Saturday.
As winds rise and clouds increase in the north, the most severe cold is likely to ease slightly. By Sunday, Lapland’s temperatures are forecast to range from -10°C to -20°C. In the rest of the country, the freeze is expected to continue, with daytime highs mainly between -15°C and -25°C.
Foreca forecasts that the harshest conditions will begin to ease next week. Although no major weather changes are expected, daytime highs may rise slightly, with much of the country seeing temperatures between -10°C and -20°C. By the end of the week, some regions may see daytime figures climb into single digits below zero.
The overall pattern of partly cloudy skies and dry weather is expected to hold. Some areas may experience light snowfall. Despite a brief reprieve, forecasts suggest colder air may return in the following week, though no significant shifts in the weather pattern are currently anticipated.
HT