Finland is expected to see temperatures rise through the weekend and into next week after an unusually cold period, although unsettled weather and the risk of heavy showers will continue across parts of the country.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute said a low-pressure system west of Finland will keep conditions unstable through the weekend and the start of next week, with the wettest weather forecast for western Finland and Lapland.
Eastern parts of the country are expected to remain warmer and drier. According to the forecast, daytime temperatures there could climb above 20°C during the weekend, while the first readings above 25°C are possible early next week.
Oskari Rockas, a duty meteorologist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, said eastern Finland has the best chance of seeing summer heat if forecast rain bands remain on their current track.
He said temperatures above 20°C are likely during the weekend in the east and heatwave conditions are possible early next week.
Western and northern Finland are expected to stay cooler, with daytime temperatures between 15°C and 20°C. Showers remain possible across the country, although rainfall totals are forecast to be higher in western and northern regions.
The contrast between warmer air in the east and cooler conditions further west could also trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms during the first half of next week.
The forecast follows one of the coldest July periods seen in recent years.
During the first half of this week, daytime temperatures in southern and eastern Finland dropped to levels described by the Finnish Meteorological Institute as exceptionally or unusually low for late July.
Night-time frost was also recorded on several occasions in northern Finland, while frost at ground level was observed at a number of weather stations in western parts of the country.
Forecast temperatures over the next four days are expected to remain a few degrees below seasonal averages across western and northern Finland, while eastern regions return closer to normal for the time of year.
Meanwhile, southern Europe continues to experience one of the hottest periods of the summer.
Meteorologists are forecasting temperatures above 40°C across large parts of Spain during the coming days, with isolated inland areas of Spain and Italy approaching 45°C. The current heatwave is expected to ease briefly over the weekend before another period of extreme heat develops across western and southern Europe next week.
Forecast models from both the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the United States Global Forecast System indicate that the next heatwave could expand across Portugal, France and Italy before spreading further north.
Temperatures above 35°C are also forecast in parts of Germany, Poland and the Benelux countries by the end of July.
Finland is expected to remain on the northern edge of this warmer air mass.
Foreca meteorologist Markus Mäntykannas says southerly winds could bring much warmer and more humid air into the country from Monday, allowing temperatures to exceed 25°C in some areas, particularly in southern Finland. While temperatures near 30°C are not currently forecast, increased humidity could make conditions feel warmer.
HT
