Weather in Finland to shift from sunny skies to snow and strong winds by week’s end

The weather in Finland will be clear and sunny across most of the country on Tuesday, but this calm spell won’t last long. By the end of the week, the country will be hit by strong winds and heavy snow and sleet showers in quick succession. “Today remains quiet, but things will start changing soon,” predicts meteorologist Elias Paakkanen.

A low-pressure system is forming in the northwest, expected to reach Finland by Tuesday evening, sweeping eastward throughout the night. This will bring snowfall to Lapland, where accumulations of 5 to 10 centimeters are possible. The rain will extend from Lapland down to central parts of the country, resulting in sleet and rain. As a result, driving conditions in northern Finland will deteriorate by Tuesday evening.

This low-pressure system will also introduce strong gusts of wind. Winds will intensify, beginning on Tuesday evening from the western coast and continuing to be gusty nationwide on Wednesday. “Gusts will widely exceed 15 meters per second, with some areas experiencing winds of up to 20 meters per second. It will be stormy throughout the country,” Paakkanen adds.

A sunny and partly clear Thursday offers a brief respite before another low-pressure system approaches from the west. This time, the rains will hit southern Finland with significant force, reaching the coast by Thursday evening. “And it won’t just be rain; it’ll at least be sleet, possibly even snow. Central Finland is likely to see its first snowfall,” Paakkanen notes.

Driving conditions will turn extremely poor in places on Friday, and winds will again pick up in strength. Paakkanen advises keeping an eye on weather forecasts, especially for those considering changing to winter tires.