Climate of Finland

Köppen climate classification types of Finland

Climate of Finland is influenced most by latitude. Because of Finland's northern location, winter is the longest season. Only in the south coast is summer as long as winter. On the average, winter lasts from early December to mid March in the archipelago and the southwestern coast and from early October to early May in Lapland. This means that southern portions of the country are snow-covered about three to four months of the year and the northern, about seven months. The long winter causes about half of the annual 500 to 600 millimetres (19.7 to 23.6 in) of precipitation in the north to fall as snow. Precipitation in the south amounts to about 600 to 700 millimetres (23.6 to 27.6 in) annually. Like that of the north, it occurs all through the year, though not so much of it is snow.

In Köppen climate classification Finland belongs to Df (Continental subarctic or boreal (taiga) climates). South coast is Dfb (Humid Continental Mild Summer, Wet All Year), rest of the country DFc (Subarctic With Cool Summer, Wet All Year).[1][2]

The Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Eurasian continent to the east interact to modify the climate of the country. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift Current, play a big role in the climate of Norway, Sweden and Finland which continuously warm the region, if it weren't for these currents the winters in Scandinavia and Fennoscandia would be much colder. Westerly winds bring the warm air currents into the Baltic areas and to the country's shores, moderating winter temperatures, especially in the south and southwest in cities like Helsinki and Turku where winter highs tend to be between 0 and 5 °C but a cold snap like the one that occurred in mid January 2016 can cause temperatures to plunge well below -20 °C. These winds, because of clouds associated with weather systems accompanying the westerlies, also decrease the amount of sunshine received during the summer. By contrast, the continental high pressure system situated over the Eurasian continent counteracts the maritime influences, occasionally causing severe winters and high temperatures in the summer.

Temperature

The warmest annual average temperature is in Southwestern Finland 6.5 °C. From there the temperature decreases gradually towards north and east. Suomenselkä and Maanselkä drainage divides rise higher than the surrounding areas, and the climate is there cooler than at same latitudes elsewhere in Finland.[3] Barents Sea between Finland and North Pole is open even in winter, so northerly airflows are not as cold as in Siberia or Alaska.[4]

The highest ever recorded temperature is 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) (Liperi, 29 July 2010).[5] The lowest, −51.5 °C (−60.7 °F) (Kittilä, 28 January 1999). The annual middle temperature is relatively high in the southwestern part of the country (5.0 to 7.5 °C or 41.0 to 45.5 °F), with quite mild winters and warm summers, and low in the northeastern part of Lapland (0 to −4 °C or 32 to 25 °F).

Temperature extremes for every month:[6]

Climate data for Finland
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6)		 11.8
(53.2)		 17.5
(63.5)		 25.5
(77.9)		 31.0
(87.8)		 33.8
(92.8)		 37.2
(99)		 33.8
(92.8)		 28.8
(83.8)		 19.4
(66.9)		 14.3
(57.7)		 11.3
(52.3)		 37.2
(99)
Record low °C (°F) −51.5
(−60.7)		 −49.0
(−56.2)		 −44.3
(−47.7)		 −36.0
(−32.8)		 −24.6
(−12.3)		 −7.0
(19.4)		 −5.0
(23)		 −10.8
(12.6)		 −18.7
(−1.7)		 −31.8
(−25.2)		 −42.0
(−43.6)		 −47.0
(−52.6)		 −51.5
(−60.7)
Source: http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/lampotilaennatyksia

Extreme highs:

Extreme lows:

References

  1. ↑ http://people.eng.unimelb.edu.au/mpeel/Koppen/Europe_MiddleEast.jpg
  2. ↑ Köppen Climate Classification System Encyclopedia of Earth
  3. ↑ Karttunen, Hannu & Koistinen, Jarmo & Saltikoff, Elena & Manner, Olli: Ilmakehä, sää ja ilmasto. Ursan julkaisuja 107. Helsingissä: Ursa, 2008. ISBN 978-952-5329-61-2. page 357-358
  4. ↑ Suomen ilmaston erityispiirteitä Tieteessä Tapahtuu
  5. 1 2 "Mercury Hits All Time Record of 37.2 Degrees". YLE Uutiset. Helsinki: Yleisradio Oy. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Lämpötilan ennätykset" (in Finnish). Helsinki: Ilmatieteen laitos. 14 November 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Elokuun lämpöennätys tarkentui: 33,8 astetta". YLE Uutiset (in Finnish). Helsinki: Yleisradio Oy. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
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