Strong thunderstorms and gusts expected across Finland

Strong thunderstorms are expected to sweep across Finland on Friday, with lightning already detected in southwestern parts of the country, Yle meteorologist Anne Borgström said.

The storm front was approaching at around 1 p.m. and was expected to intensify more widely during the afternoon. The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a warning for severe thunderstorms across a broad area.

The strongest gusts are expected in western Finland and parts of the north. They could bring down trees and cause power outages, while locally heavy rain showers are also forecast in northern Finland.

Forecasters expect Friday to be the most lightning-filled day of the thunderstorm season so far. Conditions in eastern Finland are likely to be less severe because the front is not expected to arrive there until the evening.