The high-pressure system is strengthening across Finland, bringing a dry weekend on cold nights to the north.
Friday night is cold in northern Finland, and mercury drops to -25 degrees Celsius in parts of northern Lapland. In other northern areas, readings are between -10 and -20.
On Saturday night, temperatures may drop north to -10, but then the weather is set to a milder turn.
“Last night in Enontekiö, -16.9 degrees were recorded [northwest Lapland], which is the coldest temperature so far this fall. Today it is much colder, ”Yle meteorologist Anssi Vähämäki said Friday.
Elsewhere in Finland, night temperatures remain well above zero, he said. Daily readings in the southern and central regions are 5 to 10 degrees, which is several degrees warmer than the long-term average.
“In Lapland, it should be a little below the freezing day on Saturday,” he said.
Rainy start to next week
However, the deep freezing of the night does not mean that winter is settling in northern Finland. Temperatures are expected to rise on Sunday due to stronger winds in Lapland, and a special gust of wind on Monday.
Next week starts with a rainy note, and no long-term cold is visible, Vähämäki said.
“On Sunday, the winds change and start blowing from the south and the temperatures rise above zero in Lapland as well. The rains move through Finland at least on Monday and Tuesday, ”he added.