1 week Ago By Farah Mokrani
Finland is gearing up for a turn in the weather, with a chilly, snowy start to the weekend set to give way to sunshine and temperatures that could feel more like June than April. On Saturday morning, areas of central Finland and Lapland are still expected to wake up under a blanket of sleet and snow — with up to five centimetres possible in some spots. But by the afternoon, the skies are expected to clear rapidly, especially in the southwest, where cities like Turku could see the thermometer climb to +10°C, according to meteorologist Anne Borgström from Yle.
Finland to shift from snow to summer-like warmth By Sunday, it’ll be a different story altogether. The forecast looks calm, clear, and warmer across the country, just in time for local and regional elections — and possibly some early visits to the summer cottage. Most Read on Euro Weekly News Airports without check-in? Major changes coming to air travel Four Spanish nursery workers arrested over shocking secret footage 'Tourist ban' slur.
Spain is banning no one. “It will be great summer cottage weather,” said Borgström. Southern regions could hit +13°C, with Lapland staying cooler around +3°C.
And the upward trend doesn’t stop there. Into next week, temperatures are expected to continue climbing, especially in the south and central regions, with daytime highs of +10°C to +15°C — even with a few scattered showers in the mix on Monday. Finland could see record-breaking Easter temperatures Looking further ahead, forecasters say there’s a real possibility of unseasonably warm weather heading into Easter weekend.
Private weather service Foreca reports that, based on the ECMWF model, some areas could see highs of +20°C to +24°C — and possibly even +25°C, which meets the official threshold for a heatwave. “While there’s still some uncertainty, current models are pointing to a temporary Easter heatwave,” said meteorologist Joanna Rinne. However, not all models are aligned.
The US-based GFS forecast is significantly more conservative, predicting temps up to 15 degrees lower. Still, Foreca believes the warmer scenario is plausible and should be taken seriously. If the high-end forecast holds, parts of Finland could be heading for their warmest Easter in recent memory — a rare break from the typical early spring chill.
Before the flip-flops come out, though, there’s still a bit of winter to get through. Saturday morning snow in the east and north will likely melt quickly as the sun appears later in the day. The west will be the first to see clearing skies, signalling the start of the shift.
Meteorologists are also reminding people that early warmth can come with risks: snowmelt can cause local flooding, and overnight freezing could still create slippery conditions, especially on untreated paths and pavements. That said, most forecasts agree: even in a mild version, this Easter will likely be far warmer than average — and for many Finns, that’s something to look forward to. Read more news about Finland.
