There are four seasons in Finland: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In reality, these seasons are varying a lot too but all of them are gorgeous in their own way. Let’s see the details.
Seasons in Finland
Winter
Winter is one of the most popular seasons in Finland due to the vast amount of snow, northern lights, and Christmassy vibes. So what about the weather?
The mean temperature stays below 0°C in most parts of the country.
When in winter in Finland?
Winter in Finland is from mid-October in Lapland and from November in the rest of Finland until February–April. It means the winter starts two months earlier in Northern Lapland than in Aland Island in the south.
Winter is the longest season in Finland, lasting for about 100 days in southwestern Finland and 200 days in Lapland.
What is polar night?
North of the Arctic Circle, part of winter is the period known as the ‘polar night’ (in Finnish ‘kaamos’) when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all. In the northernmost corner of Finland, the polar night lasts for 51 days.
The polar night only exists north from the Arctic circle, however, the daytime is very short in the south too. In southern Finland, the shortest day is about 6 hours long.
Snow in winter
Permanent snow covers open grounds about two weeks after winter begins. The snow cover is deepest around mid-March, with an average of 60 to 90 cm of snow in eastern and northern Finland. Southwestern Finland may have only 20-30 cm snow by that time.
When do lakes and rivers freeze in Finland?
The lakes start to freeze in November-December, but it doesn’t mean it is immediately suitable for walking on them. Make sure you check the warning signs and ask locals about safety. IF you don’t see anyone on the frozen water body, do not walk on it.
The ice is thickest in March-early April (around 50 to 65 cm).
Does the Baltic Sea freeze too? Only in very severe winters. Otherwise, it usually stays open.
When is the coldest in Finland?
The coldest day of winter is usually well around the end of January or the beginning of February.
What is the coldest temperature in Finland?
The coldest temperatures in Finland are measured in Lapland. The thermometer can drop to -45°C to -50°C in Lapland and -35°C to -45°C in Eastern Finland. The rest of the country, especially the coastal regions are warmer.
We must add here a little meme about Finnish weather. The seasons in Finland aren’t always so straightforward in the spring. You keep thinking it is the end of the winter, but it isn’t.
But let’s get back to the more serious part. The other half of the year still has a few more seasons.
Spring
Spring is a wonderful season in Finland, but we have to emphasize, that spring in the ‘European’ sense STARTS VERY LATE.
When does spring start in Finland?
Spring begins in late March – early April in Åland but in the northernmost Lapland spring only starts in early May.
How cold is Finnish spring?
In spring, the mean daily temperature rises from 0°C to 10°C. If you plan your trip to Finland in March or April, you better be prepared for wintery conditions in Lapland, and still rather cold weather in the rest of the country.
How long is spring in Finland?
The spring lasts from 45 to 65 days.
When does the snow melt?
Open areas lose their snow cover within two to three weeks of the beginning of spring, whereas on average the snow in the forest smelts about two weeks later. The lakes usually become ice-free around April in the southwest, in May in the central areas, and in June in Lapland.
Summer
In summer the mean daily temperature is above 10°C.
When does summer start in Finland?
Summer usually begins in late May in southern Finland and lasts until mid-September. Summer in Lapland starts about one month later and ends a month earlier, which means summer in Lapland is from June till early or mid-August.
Polar days and white nights in Finland
North of the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t set during the summer, it is called polar days. Another popular term for this time of the year is white nights. Northernmost Finland has 73 polar days every year.
The days are long in the south too. around midsummer, the days are 19 hours long even in the capital region.
When is the warmest in Finland?
The warmest time in Finland is in July. This is also the time when the highest temperatures are measured across the whole country. Heatwaves are also frequent, lasting for 1-2 weeks.
Autumn
In autumn the daily mean temperature remains below 10°C. The growing season ends in autumn when the mean daily temperature drops below 5°C.
Autumn in Finland
Autumn starts around mid-August in northern Finland and about one month later, in September in the southwest.
Colorful autumn a.k.a ruska
Autumn is another popular time visiting the north due to the quickly changing vegetation colors. We lower vegetation, the berry bushes turn to the hues of red, while the birch trees are golden and coniferous trees keep being green.
When is the first snow in Finland?
The first snow falls in northern Finland in September and elsewhere in October. This is rarely permanent. For that usually, you have to wait a month more.
Do you want to know more about Finland? Check out this guide!
