Kaisla

April has delivered very interesting weather here in Finland. At the beginning night time temperatures were almost record breaking low in northern Finland. Then on 10th in Lappeenranta (SE-Fin) measured 20,1C, which is earliest date ever to have maximum at 20,0C or more. After that we had lovely weather for a week a so. Then it got colder and eastern part of the country received 5-15 cm's of snow. For example Lappeenranta measured 10 cm of new, fresh snow. But yesterday arrived even bigger low and more snow. The biggest snow accumulations were in south coast, near Helsinki. Espoo Nuuksio received 28 cm of fresh snow and there were many places that got 15-25 cm's of snow. These numbers broke old records. According to meteorologists this should be the last wintry period this spring. At least in southern part of the country.

TillyS One of the benefits living in Finland is that the Atlantic cannot dominate the weather because of huge continent east of Finland. South-west is the most common wind direction here and that keeps our weather out of extremes most of the time. Every now and then flow comes between south-east and north-east resulting continental weather. Usually dry, very warm in summer and freezing cold from late autumn to spring. I've visited this forum several years now and I've noticed chase for cold and started to wonder how many pieces there are that needs to fall in right places in right time and order to get proper winter weather in UK and Ireland. I hope next winter delivers something memorable.

Last night in Lapland was the coldest in decades! The lowest temperature recorded in Savukoski Tulppio was -34,3 C. Last time it was even colder was in 1977. There were also multiple locations where temperature dropped below -30,0 C for the first time in this century. That -34,3 C goes to TOP5 all time coldest readings in April according to my highly unofficial book keeping. Weather forecaster in TV just said, that coming night is going to be cold in Lapland because high pressure is strengthening. It is still snowing in south and southeast so the final numbers aren't ready yet.

This winter was colder than usual until mid-February. After that relatively mild. April usually brings spring almost every where. Changeable weather is also common. One day is warm with lovely sunshine and couple of days later winter makes a comeback with snow and frost like tomorrow. In Lapland there was quite cold this morning, -29,5 C in Utsjoki Kevojärvi. Since 1961 there have been 9 Aprils when minimum temperature was -30,0 C or lower. The lowest ever is -36,0 C in 1912. Next 2-3 mornings can be very cold in Lapland, but I think the old record will not be broken. At the moment strong low is approaching from south and this will collide with cold air mass over the land. Lots of water and snow is expected to south and south-east. 5-15 cms of snow quite commonly and locally over 20 cm. Interesting 24 hours ahead.

Midlands Ice Age I remember reading about the challenges satellites and researchers have when dealing with ice. So, you are probably right. About the heat content. When water starts to freeze, it means that the surface of the water has reached freezing point. 20 cm:s deeper water could be maybe 0,2/0,3 degrees above freezing point. Water is layered by temperature. Right beneath the newly formed ice, water temperature is close to freezing point. If conditions remains the same, thickness of the ice grows until the balance between the air and water temperature is reached. Then a storm comes, ice breaks to bigger and smaller pieces and water gets mixed again. As a consequence water temperature rises and that causes some of the ice to melt. I think this is also a factor, when we wonder what happened to ice. I can't say how much piling up, measurement challenges and actual melt contribute to the problem.

Thank you MIA! I've learned many things about weather during my weather watcher era. The effect of wind on the ice coverage was maybe the hardest one one to understand or accept. I couldn't believe my eyes in the past when I checked ice charts before and after the storm. I've seen many times a situation where Bay of Bothnia (the northernmost part of the Baltic) is fully covered with ice and after the storm more than half of the ice seems to be missing. Most of the ice is still there but wind piles it up. The area gets smaller but volume not so much. I've also learned that when SST in the Baltic goes below 1 degrees and wind calms down freezing starts soon after and can be surprisingly fast. But because the water mass has lots of heat content left, freezing usually takes more time in autumn than in the middle of winter. Even when the conditions are seemingly equal. Conditions for new ice in the Baltic are good at least 2-3 days. After that weather turns much milder and windier. In the Barents area next 3-4 days should be dominated by high pressure. Cold and mild winds means new ice. Interesting to see that.

South-westerly winds calmed down and temperatures should be well below 0 C at least in Gulf of Bothnia and Bay of Bothnia. The latter is partly open due to SW -winds of recent days, but by next weekend it should be covered again. It is also possible that Gulf of Bothnia will gain lot of new ice in coming days. Weather charts are looking interesting for Barents Sea also. A possible high could bring very cold air west of Novaja Zemlja and maybe winds will be quite weak. Circumstances for refreeze looks quite promising.

Two thirds of winter gone and this winter has been colder than usually so far. In fact January was fourth consecutive month with mean temperature below average. It will be interesting see what February has in store. At the moment very strong NW wind is blowing in NW -Lapland. At the fell top in Muonio measured max wind speed of 35,7 m/s and the strongest gust was 42,5 m/s. These are extraordinary values for Finland even if measured at the fell top.

The second but last colder day here in Finland. The Gulf of Bothnia is still open and it is likely to stay open for rest of January. Temperatures are expected to be above seasonal mean values at least a week, possibly two. Ice cover in the Baltic hardly grows in the next two weeks. It remains to be seen if this warming is a bigger change in weather patterns or just an interlude.

No wonder motorists are in trouble. Those accumulations are just ridiculous!

So a cold period is ending and the lowest value in Finland will be -44,3 C. How cold is that? I checked Finnish meteorological institute site and checked my own stuff to find an answer to that. From 1st of January 1961 to 31st of December 2023 I found at least 12 separate cold periods, when the lowest value was -44,0 C or colder. In the last 36 years (1st Jan 1988 - ) there have been only 2 cold periods like this. January 1999 is the coldest them all, when the national record was set (-51,5 C). These cold periods happened in 10 different years. In 1978 and 1985 there were two separate periods. Based on this, it is quite safe to say that this recent reading of -44,3 C is going to be the coldest of the year also. Not guaranteed but highly likely.

That is kind of like with saunas, there are no recommendations, but you have to use common sense and listen to your body. On the other hand I can understand your question. If you have not experienced temperatures that cold ( -30 on and below ). Few rules of thumb. - If you don't need to go outside it is perfectly OK to stay indoors. - If you need to go out, check the temperature and wind and dress accordingly. - Always keep the wind behind your back if possible. - Right amount of movement, no standing still or heavy labor. The point being, keep yourself on the move just the right amount. Too much moving or working makes you sweat and that is bad. Standing still is no solution. - Check from time to time if you can still feel your fingers, toes, nose and cheekbones. - And if you are going to stay outdoors for hours, remember to drink. Human body loses water even if it is freezing cold. - When you are back inside again, hang all of your clothes to dry up so you have dry clothing when you get out next time. In practice I have noticed that when 'feels like' temperature drops to -25 C or lower, I cover my face so that only eyes remains exposed. Breathing becomes more difficult, but I don't like frostbites either.

I found an interesting link that shows all temperature measurements of Finnish road network on a single map, temperature data from the road network. Default value seems to be temperature of road surface. There is a checkbox in settings, bottom left corner. Choose 'lämpötila' and you'll get air temperature data. The coldest reading is near Finnish Karesuvanto, -45,4 degrees C. There is an official weather station on the Swedish side of Muonionjoki -river. Last reading was from yesterday, -42,2 C. It is interesting to see what the official reading will be.

The latest icechart for the Baltic Sea tells that Bay of Bothnia and Merenkurkku/Kvarken are now fully frozen. Next area to freeze is the archipelago between Turku and Åland Islands. Wind is forecasted to be 5 - 7 m/s next 24 hours or so and weakening after that or calming down completely. I think it is possible for that area to freeze by Sunday/Monday. Gulf of Finland has gained some ice, but wind has been far too strong. For example Helsinki lighthouse somewhat in the middle section of the gulf has seen winds blowing from 8m/s to 14 m/s. But nearer to St Petersburg wind has been weaker and there is new ice.