Finland records spring’s highest temperature as heatwave peaks before sharp cooldown
Finland experienced its warmest day of the year so far on Saturday, with temperatures reaching a spring record of +23.5°C in Mäntsälä, Uusimaa. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) confirmed the peak measurement at 14:40, surpassing an earlier record of +22°C set in the same location earlier in the day (Ilta-Sanomat). The previous spring high of +21.8°C had been recorded in Salo just a day before (Yle).
The unseasonal warmth extended across much of southern and central Finland, with many areas exceeding +20°C. Nuuksio National Park in Espoo was the first location to break the 20-degree mark this year, hitting +20.3°C on Friday (Yle). However, coastal regions and Lapland remained cooler due to strong winds (Ilta-Sanomat).
Sharp temperature drop expected
The warm spell is set to end abruptly as winds shift to the north on Sunday, bringing a significant cooldown. While sunny areas in the south may still reach 16–17°C, temperatures elsewhere will drop to between 10 and 15°C, with northern Finland likely to stay in single digits. Overnight lows could fall as low as -5°C in some areas (Yle).
By Monday, daytime highs in rainy regions may struggle to reach 6–7°C, with no immediate return to warmer conditions expected. FMI meteorologist Jari Tuovinen noted that forecasts for later in the week remain highly uncertain, with significant discrepancies between weather models (Ilta-Sanomat).
Record-breaking spring temperatures
The recent heat follows an exceptionally warm March and April, which FMI researcher Mika Rantanen described as the warmest March-April period on record in Finland. March was the warmest ever recorded, while April ranked as the sixth warmest, with temperature deviations of 0.5–3 degrees above the 1991–2020 average (Yle).
For the entire spring to avoid breaking a century-old record—set in 1921—May would need to be colder than average. Finland’s climate is warming at a rate significantly faster than the global average, with 2023 being the second-warmest year on record in the country (Yle).
Wind warnings and fire risks
Sunday’s weather will also bring strong, gusty winds, prompting warnings for northern Finland and coastal areas. A forest fire alert remains in effect across most of the country, prohibiting all outdoor fires (Yle).