Festivals warned of heavy weekend rains

Visitors to this weekend’s festivals should prepare for heavy downpours, the Finnish Meteorological Institute has warned.

The institute’s meteorologist Henriikka Heikinoja said parts of central Finland could see rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres in a single day on Sunday, approaching the average total for the entire month of July.

Rain is expected to begin in central areas between Friday night and Saturday morning, spreading across southern and central Finland by Saturday afternoon. Eastern and Lapland regions are forecast to remain mostly dry.

While Saturday’s rainfall is not expected to be extreme, organisers advised attendees to bring waterproof clothing. Tammerfest in Tampere saw visitors Pihla Pulli and Siiri Hahto carrying disposable ponchos.

“Clothes don’t matter as long as you have a rain jacket,” Pulli said.

Heavy rain is most likely on Sunday, with central Finland again the focus. Wind gusts may also accompany the downpours.

Pori Jazz organiser Sanna Grönmark said the festival site in Kirjurinluoto Park is designed to handle high rainfall thanks to drainage systems and structures built to official standards.

“Finns are used to rain and dress accordingly,” she said. “These rainfall levels are not expected to cause major disruption.”

Seinäjoki’s Vauhtiajat festival organiser Kalle Keskinen said organisers are monitoring conditions but do not anticipate needing to cancel events.