January was mild and precipitation remained low

In large parts of the country, January was dryer than usual and there was less snow than long-term averages would suggest at the end of the month. The month was rainier than regular only in the northernmost Lapland.

Kuva: Tero Pajukallio

According to the statistics of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, January was milder than normally in the whole country. January's average temperature ranged mostly from 0°C to -4°C in southern parts of the country, from -3°C to -8°C in Central Finland, Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu and from -7°C to -11°C in Lapland. The observed temperatures were about 2-4°C higher than usual. The greatest temperature deviation in comparison to a regular January was observed in the regions of Ostrobothnia.

There was a short cold spell at the start of the month, but the rest was marked by a mild current between south and west. The month's lowest temperature, -41.7°C, was recorded on 5 January in Muonio, and the highest, +7.9°C, was recorded on 1 January in Jomala.

Precipitation remained lower than usual except for the northernmost part of the country. Precipitation was unusually low in large parts of South and Central Finland. January was rainiest in the Enontekiö area. The highest precipitation, 102 mm, was recorded in Kilpisjärvi, Enontekiö, and the lowest, 5 mm, was recorded in Köyliö.

With the exception of Lapland, the snow coverage was below average, with some areas in the western and south-western coast completely free of snow. Northern Lapland had the most snow with a snow depth of 60–80 cm and up to 100 cm in some areas in the Enontekiö area.

Further information:

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