Unprecedented heat levels expected in Finland as temperatures rise above 25 degrees Celsius

Unprecedented heat levels may be recorded in Finland as early as today, surpassing the previous record set this year. The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasts that temperatures in the southern and central regions of the country could exceed 25 degrees Celsius, which would establish a new record for summer heat days in 2023.

Yesterday marked the 66th heat day of the year, breaking the previous record of 65 heat days from 2002. The threshold for heat in Finland is set at 25.1 degrees Celsius, with comparable heat statistics beginning from 1961. This summer has experienced average temperatures that align with the record high set in 1937, as the nationwide average temperature for the months of June to August reached 16.2 degrees Celsius.

Researchers from the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the University of Helsinki, employing a peer-reviewed method, have noted significant impacts of climate change on temperature in both Northern and Southern Finland. According to Hannele Korhonen, the head of the institute’s division, the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves are among the most widely recognized consequences of climate change. While hot summers have occurred in the past, the probability of experiencing such heat is expected to rise further in the coming decades due to climate change.