Temperatures across Finland continued to fall on Saturday, with meteorologists warning of worsening frost and persistent icy conditions well into next week.
In Uusimaa, the Finnish Meteorological Institute issued a warning for dangerous driving conditions. Slippery roads led to multiple accidents in the capital region on Saturday. Emergency services responded to several incidents caused by black ice and poor visibility.
The poor road conditions were caused by light snowfall combined with freezing surfaces, increasing the risk of sudden ice formation.
In southern and central Finland, daytime temperatures are expected to remain between –5°C and –15°C. Meteorologist Anna Latvala from Foreca said colder pockets may form as cloud cover breaks. “Where skies clear, frost can intensify quickly to –15°C or even –20°C,” Latvala wrote in Foreca’s weather blog.
Northern Finland faces harsher conditions. In clearer areas, the mercury could fall to –30°C overnight. Daytime highs will remain well below freezing, with –10°C to –20°C common across Lapland. Isolated snow showers are forecast in the region, particularly in the far north.
Over the weekend, light snow is forecast along parts of the western coastline and in northern Lapland. On Sunday, a weather front bringing snowfall is expected to move southward from the north. The front could reach central regions by Sunday evening, increasing local snowfall.
Winds remain mostly weak inland, although occasional gusts may add to the chill factor in open areas. Combined with freezing fog and snow showers, visibility may also be reduced in parts of the country.
Between Monday and Wednesday, daytime temperatures in southern and central areas are forecast to stay between –5°C and –15°C, with colder spells in clearer areas. In the north, the forecast remains below –20°C in many areas, with risks of –30°C if skies remain clear.
Meteorologists say that while snowfall is expected to remain light and scattered, the freezing temperatures are the main concern. Roads are likely to stay slippery throughout the week. The Finnish Meteorological Institute urges drivers to remain cautious, especially in southern Finland, where rapidly changing conditions are making roads unpredictable.
HT