Storm clouds. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
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Storm Ulla caused widespread disruption across Finland on Friday, cutting electricity for more than 19,000 households, stopping rail services, damaging infrastructure, and forcing event cancellations.
Wind gusts reached over 30 metres per second overnight in western parts of the country. The strongest gust, 32.4 m/s, was recorded in Rauma. At the same location, the average wind speed peaked at 25.6 m/s. In response, emergency services received dozens of calls, primarily to clear fallen trees and address wind-related damage.
In Central Finland’s Keuruu, over half of the population lost electricity, with around 4,500 customers affected in a town of 9,000. The situation was similar in the archipelago town of Pargas, where 4,900 households were without power. Electricity network operators warned of additional outages throughout the day.
The storm also disrupted rail traffic between Mikkeli and Pieksämäki. A passenger train travelling from Helsinki to Oulu collided with trees that had fallen onto the tracks in Hiirola. The impact damaged electrical infrastructure, halting all train traffic on the section.
According to Fintraffic, the damaged area can currently be bypassed via a side track. Repairs to the overhead line are scheduled to begin at 3pm, with rail services replaced by buses during the outage. Authorities estimate that the fault will be repaired by 6pm.
Passengers at Mikkeli station were directed onto replacement buses. Photos from the scene showed long queues forming on the station platform.
In southern coastal areas such as Hanko and Kirkkonummi, strong gusts and heavy waves were reported. In Kirkkonummi, nearly 1,400 households lost power. Other affected municipalities included Lohja, Raseborg, Tuusula, and Hanko.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) warned of hazardous wind conditions across nearly the entire country, excluding Lapland. Winds of 20 m/s were expected in central and eastern regions, with maritime areas facing particularly dangerous conditions.
In Ylivieska, Northern Ostrobothnia, lightning likely triggered a fire that destroyed a holiday home. No injuries were reported.
On the southern coast, the Ulla storm flooded areas such as Hanko and Hamina. In Hamina, sea levels rose by nearly one metre, submerging a local padel court. In Kustavi, boat harbours were hit by rough seas, causing boats to slam against piers. Witnesses described violent conditions, with docks bouncing under the force of waves.
The storm also affected major events. In Kajaani, the Kainuu Orienteering Week was cancelled mid-competition due to lightning risks. In Tampere, strong winds delayed preparations for a local music festival.
Despite the weather, some services continued. Viking Line ferries between Turku and Stockholm operated as scheduled. Passengers described rough conditions but no major issues. Electricity supply exceeded demand during the storm, leading to negative spot prices for power throughout the afternoon.
The weather system moved from southwest to northeast through the day, with forecasters predicting conditions to calm by Friday evening. The FMI recorded the highest rainfall in Ylivieska, where over 45 millimetres fell in 12 hours. Rain and wind extended into Lapland by late afternoon.
Authorities remained on alert in eastern regions, where the storm was expected to peak before tapering off. Power restoration efforts are ongoing, with some areas likely to remain without service into Saturday.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
