Cold, snow and subzero nights mark Finland’s start to May

By admin On May 5, 2025

Snowfall in Turku on May Day Eve. Photo: Anni Savolainen / Lehtikuva

The first full week of May has begun with winter-like weather across Finland, bringing snow to the northeast, freezing temperatures to the south, and widespread travel disruption.

Daytime temperatures on Monday ranged from 4 to 9°C in the south and west, and just 1 to 5°C in the east and north. In some areas of Lapland, temperatures stayed below freezing even during daylight hours, with overnight lows dropping to -10°C.

Snowfall reached up to 30 centimetres in parts of eastern and northeastern Finland, including Kuusamo and Salla, causing dangerous road conditions.

Strong winds created drifting snow in these regions, while wet roads further south in Kainuu presented their own hazards. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) issued warnings for poor driving conditions and advised caution across much of the country, particularly in the north.

Meanwhile, a track fault in eastern Finland disrupted train services between Parikkala and Joensuu for several hours on Sunday. The affected section, near Kitee in North Karelia, caused delays of up to 90 minutes. State rail operator VR arranged bus replacements for several InterCity routes. Repairs were completed before 4pm, but lingering delays continued into the evening.

Weather-related rail and road disruptions coincided with forecasts of an unusually cold start to May. According to the FMI, temperatures may continue to fall below freezing in the south over the next few nights. Meteorologist Iiris Idoko confirmed on Sunday that Helsinki Airport had recorded subzero temperatures overnight.

Foreca meteorologist Kristian Roine said that northern airflows were keeping conditions cool, with more wintry showers possible in Central Finland early in the week. By Thursday, high pressure is expected to build over western Finland, bringing clearer skies and slightly warmer air.

Midweek conditions will remain dry, with the sun appearing briefly along the coast. However, daytime highs will mostly stay around 5°C. Temperatures in Lapland may hover around zero.

Looking ahead to the weekend, daytime temperatures in southern and western Finland could rise slightly above 10°C. Despite the improvement, forecasters say a sustained return to spring-like warmth remains unlikely in the immediate future.

Foreca’s long-range outlook suggests more stable weather by Mother’s Day on Sunday, 11 May, with early signs of warming trends starting next week.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi