April was widely warmer than usual, and exceptionally warm on the southern and western coasts, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI).
The temperature deviation from the 1991–2020 average was 1–2 degrees, but in Eastern and Northern Lapland, it remained below the average, said FMI in a press release on Wednesday.
The previous warmer April was in the southern and central parts of the country in 2019.
As usual, April was characterised by significant temperature fluctuations. The temperature rapidly increased to 19.1 degrees Celsius on 2 April in Helsinki and 3 April in Jomala, which is very exceptional.
The second heat pulse hit Easter week, when 22.9 degrees Celsius were measured in Rauma on 16 April. This was the highest temperature of the month.
The heat pulses were followed by cooler episodes lasting approximately a week. The month's lowest temperature, minus 23.8 degrees Celsius, was recorded at the village centre in Kilpisjärvi on 11 April.
In terms of rainfall, the southern part of the country and Northern Lapland received more rain than usual, while in between, it was drier than usual.
Particularly in the area extending from Central Ostrobothnia to Kainuu, there was exceptionally little rainfall in places.
The month’s rainfall ranged from 3.1 millimetres in Paltaniemi, Kajaani, to 71.6 millimetres in Nuorgam, Utsjoki. The highest amount of rainfall, 29.6 mm, was recorded in the port of Långnäs on 19 April.
Most of Finland had more sunshine than usual, and at the end of the month, mainly Central and Northern Lapland and Koillismaa still had snow, from about 30 centimetres to over a metre at Kilpisjärvi.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
