Severe winds cause widespread power outages in central and southern Finland

Severe winds have led to widespread power outages in central and southern Finland. According to a service monitoring outages, over 42,000 customers were left without electricity after 6 PM, a significant increase from fewer than 10,000 earlier in the afternoon.

The disruptions are particularly concentrated in central Finland, where local emergency services, such as those in Pirkanmaa, have responded to several incidents related to storm damage during the afternoon and early evening hours.

In southern maritime areas, storm conditions were reported in the afternoon, with wind speeds reaching up to 22 meters per second. Gusts have also significantly impacted land areas in southern and central Finland, albeit not as intensely as at sea.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a comprehensive wind warning for southern Finland and its maritime regions for Saturday. Despite these severe conditions, shipping companies Tallink Silja and Viking Line have announced that their vessels are operating normally, adhering to schedules despite the stormy weather.

Updates on the situation are ongoing as conditions continue to evolve.