Two snow waves to hit Finland as driving conditions worsen

Two waves of snow are forecast to hit Finland this week, with the first arriving on Tuesday and driving conditions expected to deteriorate quickly, Yle reports.

The smaller first wave is expected to bring snow to a narrow area of South Lapland and Koillismaa on Tuesday morning. More than 10 centimetres could fall in a small area, but accumulations are expected to be lower elsewhere. Precipitation may fall as rain in parts of Kainuu and along the coast between Meri-Lappi and Oulu.

A larger wave is expected later in the week as a low-pressure system arrives on Wednesday and affects the weather for several days. In southern Finland, precipitation is forecast to remain mostly rain. In central Finland, it may fall as snow or sleet from the outset, with the heaviest amounts expected between Jyväskylä and South Lapland.

Friday is currently forecast to be the wettest day of the week. In the south, precipitation is expected to remain mostly rain, though it could switch between rain, snow and sleet locally on Friday afternoon.

The poorest driving conditions are expected on Thursday and Friday, and weather warnings have been issued for parts of the country. Yle meteorologist Elias Paakkanen said the timing of the snowfall could still change as forecasts are updated.