Finland Faces Cooler-Than-Usual Late Summer with Rain and Possible Frost
Finland is experiencing a cooler and wetter late summer than usual, with no significant heatwaves in sight, according to weather forecasts. The final weeks of August and early September are expected to remain below average temperatures, while rain systems move across the country.
Cool and Unstable Weather Dominates
This week, temperatures have largely stayed below 20°C, with Lapland seeing even cooler conditions, dropping below 15°C in many areas. A low-pressure system brought rain to much of Finland on Monday and Tuesday, with local showers continuing on Wednesday. However, a high-pressure area is expected to bring drier conditions by Thursday, offering a brief respite before more unsettled weather returns.
Ilta-Sanomat reports that while southern Finland may see temperatures rise to 25°C in sunny areas—potentially marking the last heatwave of the summer—central and northern regions will remain cooler, with central Finland reaching 20–24°C and the north 15–20°C. Scattered clouds and rain will prevent temperatures from rising in some areas.
Meteorologist Joanna Rinne of Foreca notes that no major heatwaves are expected in the coming weeks. "The colors on the maps still lean toward the continuation of the long-term large-scale weather pattern, meaning that Finland would remain cooler than usual for this time of year," she says. This pattern is expected to persist into early September, with rain systems moving in from the west.
Autumn-Like Conditions and Possible Frost
The cool trend has brought distinctly autumnal weather, with temperatures dropping below 10°C in some areas at the start of the week. MTV Uutiset reports that the night between Wednesday and Thursday could be particularly cold, with ground frost possible as far south as southern Finland. In Suomenselkä, temperatures may even dip below freezing in some areas.
Meteorologist Liisa Rintaniemi advises gardeners to protect delicate plants ahead of Thursday night’s cold snap. She describes the current weather in three words: "Cool, unstable, and gusty." While warm air from Europe may briefly raise temperatures in southern Finland over the weekend, Rintaniemi does not yet declare summer over. "I won’t declare summer over, but heatwaves are not currently in sight, and beach weather may be somewhat scarce," she says.
Next week, cold mornings are expected to return, with the possibility of ground frost and even night frosts in sensitive areas.
Contrasting Weather Across Europe
While Finland and northern Europe face cooler and wetter conditions, southern and central Europe continue to experience dry and oppressively hot weather. Ilta-Sanomat notes that as August nears its end, central Europe will remain hot, while southern Europe is forecast to see wetter-than-average conditions. No significant changes in this weather pattern are expected in the coming weeks.
