Finland has recorded its coldest temperatures of the winter so far as a wave of Arctic air tightened its grip on the country from Lapland to the southern coast, meteorological authorities confirmed on Monday.
In Savukoski, eastern Lapland, temperatures dropped to –39.9 degrees Celsius shortly before 08:00, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The reading matched the season’s previous low, recorded earlier this month in Kilpisjärvi, near the Norwegian border. Forecasters say even colder readings remain possible in the coming days.
The all-time national record stands at –51.5 degrees Celsius, measured in Pokka, Kittilä, on January 28, 1999.
Southern Finland has also felt the impact of the deep freeze. In the capital, Helsinki, temperatures fell below –20 degrees Celsius for the first time this winter, with wind chill making conditions feel closer to –30 degrees. Meteorologists noted that while such temperatures are not unusual for Finland, this marks the coldest spell the capital has experienced so far this season.
The severe cold is expected to ease slightly in southern areas on Tuesday and Wednesday as cloud cover increases, with daytime temperatures rising to between –5 and –10 degrees Celsius. However, colder conditions are forecast to return later in the week, with daytime highs around –10 degrees and nighttime lows dropping to –20 degrees.
In Lapland, cold weather warnings remain in force, and on Monday the alert was extended to southern parts of the country.
Snow now blankets the entire nation, including the southwestern archipelago and the Åland Islands, where several centimeters have been reported. Northern Finland has accumulated around half a meter of snow. While Monday remained largely dry, forecasters expect additional snowfall by midweek, particularly across southern and central regions, raising concerns about blowing snow and hazardous driving conditions.
The cold spell has also pushed up electricity prices, driven by increased demand for heating and reduced wind power generation due to calm weather. Market data indicate average hourly electricity prices on Tuesday are expected to exceed 16 cents per kilowatt-hour, with prices forecast to ease only later in the evening.
