July recorded 15 hot days as western Finland saw exceptional rainfall

Finland recorded 15 hot days in July, while western parts of the country received exceptionally heavy rainfall, Yle reports.

The average temperature was about 0 to 1 degree Celsius below the 1991 to 2020 reference-period average across much of Finland. Overall, the month was statistically close to average.

There was one fewer hot day than the reference-period average of 14. Sunshine was also below normal nationwide and exceptionally scarce in the south, with observation stations recording about 160 to 300 hours.

Average temperatures ranged from about 17 to 18 degrees Celsius on the southern coast to 11 to 14 degrees in northern Lapland.

The highest temperature, 31.1 degrees Celsius, was recorded at Pyhtää airport on July 12. The lowest, minus 2.0 degrees, was measured at the Tulppio observation station in Savukoski on July 20.

Rainfall was heaviest at the Karhila observation station in Multia, which recorded 219.9 millimetres. The lowest total was recorded at the Huhtilampi observation station in Joensuu, where 33.7 millimetres fell.

June was warmer than usual

June was warmer than normal, with average temperatures 1 to 2 degrees Celsius above the long-term average across most of the country.

There were also more hot days than average. June recorded 13 hot days, compared with an average of eight.

The highest temperature in June was 29.5 degrees Celsius, recorded at the Kärkkä observation station in Salo on June 29. The lowest, minus 2.5 degrees, was measured at Lompolonvuoma in Kittilä on June 2.

Monthly rainfall totals were close to normal, although Lapland was exceptionally rainy. The highest rainfall was recorded in Raistakka, Posio, where 135.3 millimetres fell.