An outdoor enthusiast in Eiranranta, Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA
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A sharp weather shift is expected across Finland this weekend, with snow in parts of the country giving way to sunshine and potentially summer-like temperatures heading into Easter.
Meteorologists say Saturday will begin with sleet and snow showers, particularly across central regions and Finnish Lapland. In some areas, up to five centimetres of snow may accumulate during the morning hours.
By Saturday afternoon, conditions are forecast to clear. According to Yle meteorologist Anne Borgström, the southwest will see sunshine and temperatures rising to around +10 degrees Celsius in areas like Turku.
Sunday is expected to be calm, clear and warmer nationwide. Forecasts suggest +13 degrees in southern Finland, with cooler conditions of around +3 degrees in Lapland. The sunny weather will coincide with Finland’s local and regional elections.
“It will be great summer cottage weather,” Borgström said.
Next week brings signs of a continued warming trend. Monday may see scattered showers but temperatures are forecast to stay around +10 to +15 degrees in the south and centre.
Longer-term forecasts are indicating the potential for unseasonably high temperatures during the Easter weekend. According to private weather service Foreca, parts of Finland may experience a sudden heat surge, with daily highs well above 20 degrees.
Meteorologist Joanna Rinne said the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model suggests a possible temperature peak between +20°C and +24°C across southern and central Finland during the Easter weekend. Locally, the mercury could even nudge the +25°C mark — a level typically associated with early summer.
“While the forecast still includes uncertainty, current models show a strong signal for a temporary heatwave over Easter,” Rinne noted.
However, not all forecast models agree. The US-based GFS model predicts temperatures up to 15 degrees lower over the same period. Rinne acknowledged the range but said Foreca considers the high-end scenario plausible.
Should the ECMWF forecast prove accurate, parts of Finland may experience their warmest Easter in recent memory, with even the threshold for an official heatwave — defined as +25°C — potentially being reached in isolated areas.
Before that, early next week is expected to remain mild. Monday’s forecast shows temperatures between +10°C and +15°C, depending on region. Tuesday and Wednesday may bring similar or slightly higher figures, with occasional showers.
In the meantime, the immediate weekend will bring a final brush with winter before temperatures begin their rapid climb. Snowfall in the east and north on Saturday morning will likely melt quickly as clearer conditions develop during the day. The shift is already underway in western Finland, where skies are expected to clear first.
Despite the promising forecasts, meteorologists caution that sudden warmth this early in spring can also bring risks, such as local flooding from melting snow and a heightened chance of slip hazards during overnight refreezing.
Nonetheless, weather services agree that the Easter weekend will likely be mild at the very least — and potentially much warmer than usual for mid-April.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
