Finland records first 30°C day of year as Russian heat pushes east

Finland recorded its first day above 30 degrees Celsius this year, with the temperature reaching 30.2°C in Mekrijärvi, Ilomantsi, in the east of the country, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The reading, reported by the Finnish newspaper Helsinki Times and cited by Dagbladet, is among the earliest such measurements ever registered in Finland, having only been surpassed earlier in 2014 and 2021.

The heat is caused by a warm air mass moving in from Russia, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “Russervarme” (Russian heat). “It is because of the warm air mass that lies over Russia. We often talk about ‘Russervarme’, and I do not think Finland is unfamiliar with it,” said duty meteorologist Marit Berger of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute to Dagbladet. Inland areas, particularly in eastern Finland, are most affected.

Berger noted that while such conditions are not entirely abnormal for Finland, they are unusual so early in the year. Temperatures in Finland are already expected to drop again on Thursday as cooler air moves in.

The warm air is now shifting eastward and will not reach Norway. “In the forecasts ahead we see that this is moving east. For Norway there will be no ‘Finnish heatwave’,” Berger said. She added that southern Norway will see higher temperatures, but not 30 degrees, with readings closer to 20 degrees toward the Pentecost weekend.