Lapland experiences unusually warm July

The monthly average temperature was very even throughout the country. July was warmer than normal on the west coast and in the north, as well as in the Northern Savo and North Karelia regions. Elsewhere, average temperatures were close to the long-term average or slightly below it. Relatively, it was warmest in Eastern Lapland and Koillismaa, where the monthly average temperature in some places was more than 2 degrees higher than normal.

The highest temperature of the month, 29, 1°C, was reported in Kevo, Utsjoki on 23 July. The month's lowest temperature of 0.8 degrees was reported on 20 July in Möksy, Alajärvi. There were a total of 16 days when temperatures rose above 25 degrees in the country as a whole, which is exactly the same as the July long-term average.

Great variations in precipitation levels

July saw great variations in local rainfall. Kenttärova, Kittilä, where it rained the most, reported a total of 197 mm precipitation, while Jomalaby, Jomala, where it rained the least reported only 16 mm of precipitation. Many locations in the western Finland and its southwest archipelago reported less than 80 per cent of normal precipitation levels and in some places rainfall was even were exceptionally low.

On the other hand, precipitation levels were exceptionally high up to double the normal in the east of the country and Western Lapland, where it rained the most. Rainfall of this intensity is reported in the regions in question only once in 30 years. Some of the country's eastern and northern observation stations reported station-specific record breaking precipitation levels for July. However, the country's precipitation record was a far way off, as during the rainiest July in history in 1934 a total of 302 mm precipitation fell in Laukaa. The largest amount of rain in the course of one day was reported in Yläluosta, Rautavaara where it rained 74.3 mm on 3 July.

In July, thunderstorms were a nearly daily occurrence, and the month's lightening total was 80,100. This is approximately one third more than the long-term average for July (60,000). By far, the highest number of lightning strikes in Finland, a total of 21,600, was recorded on 5 July. There have been only six days in the 2000s when over 20,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes have been recorded.

Further information:

Weather statistics from the Climate Service tel. +358 (0)600 1 0601 (€4.01/min + local charges)Weather forecasts from the on-duty meteorologist 24 h/day tel. +358 (0)600 1 0600 (4,01 e/min + local charges)

http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastohttp://www.ilmastokatsaus.fi/