Heatwave spreads across Finland for Midsummer

Temperatures will break the 20°C mark across much of southern and central Finland by Midsummer, according to Yle meteorologist Henriikka Heikinoja.

Rain showers will clear by Thursday, with mostly dry conditions expected for Midsummer Eve on Friday. Isolated showers may still occur, particularly in the arm of Lapland, but skies will generally be partly cloudy with sunshine pushing temperatures higher.

Western Finland will see the warmest conditions, while the east remains cooler. By Midsummer Day, heat records are likely to be broken in many areas, with temperatures exceeding 20°C as far north as Oulu. Western Lapland will stay cooler than the rest of the country.

Rain may return to Lapland by Saturday evening but is expected to clear by Sunday night. Forecasts may adjust in the coming days.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued warnings for potentially dangerous winds in western and southern Finland on Wednesday, with rain warnings also in effect for the southeast.