Unusually warm spring ends in cool May

The average temperature in May was six to nine degrees Celsius in the southern and central parts of the country and mostly three to six degrees Celsius in the northern part of the country, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI).

In most parts of the country, the monthly average temperature was colder than the long-term average, while in Lapland the temperature was close to the average.

The month’s highest temperature, 24.5 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Harabacka, Porvoo on 26 May. The lowest temperature of the month, minus 12.6 degrees Celsius, was measured in Naruska, Salla on 1 May.

At the end of May, there was still more than 60cm of snow in central and northern Lapland at individual stations, and just under 50cm on the last day of May.

At several observation stations, the snow was the deepest or among the deepest measured for this time of the year in the station’s recorded history.

On the last day of May, the deepest snow could be found in Kenttärova, Kittilä. The snow was measured at 48 cm which is the largest snow depth measured on the last day of May in the station’s 18-year recorded history.

In Pokka, Kittilä, the snow depth was 45cm on the last day of May. This is the largest snow depth measured on the last day of May in the station’s 49-year recorded history.