Autumn storm cuts power and lashes Finland with 28-metre winds

An autumn storm has cut electricity supplies and caused damage response work across Finland, Yle reports. Forecast rainfall and wind gusts have been stronger than expected, with northern Finland hit particularly hard.

At around 7.30am, about 6,000 households were without power, according to Yle meteorologist Aleksi Lohtander.

Rain and powerful wind gusts have affected North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and southern Lapland since the early hours. A wind gust of 28 metres per second was recorded at sea near Raahe on the coast of North Ostrobothnia during the morning.

Oulu received 25 millimetres of rain in the previous 12 hours.

“It is still very windy. I would not be surprised if damage occurred in the Raahe, Siikajoki and Oulu regions in the next few hours,” Lohtander said.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a warning for dangerous winds in North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. Lohtander urged people in the regions to exercise caution.

The rain and winds are expected to weaken and move away from Finland towards the evening.