January saw high precipitation and wide temperature fluctuations

Temperature readings split into two

January was milder then normal in many parts of southern and central parts of the country, with the temperature deviation ranging mostly between two and three degrees. In Central and Northern Lapland, however, the month was between one and two degrees colder than average.

The average temperature for the month does not, however, tell the whole story, as the month was characterised by large temperature variations, with milder and colder periods. The month's lowest temperature, -39.6 °C, was recorded on 11 January in Utsjoki, and the highest, +7.5 °C, was recorded on 1 January in Kristiinankaupunki.

High precipitation of different types at almost record-breaking levels

Precipitation levels for January were exceptionally high close to the western coastline and also in the area stretching from Kainuu to Sea Lapland. Precipitation volumes in these areas were nearly twice as high as normal for January. In western parts of the country many weather observation stations recorded the highest precipitation levels for January since 1961.

The highest precipitation reading, at 129mm, was recorded at Torppi weather station in Tornio. This same observation station also recorded on 29 January the highest precipitation over a 24 hour period: a total of 33.7mm. Only in Northern Lapland was the level of precipitation below average,  with the lowest precipitation volume, at 13.8mm, being recording in Inari parish village.

Over a metre of snow in Ylä-Kainuu by the end of the month

At the end of the month there was an unusually large amount of snow in Central and Northern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and Southern Lapland.  Such large amounts of snow are seen on average only once in a decade. The deepest snow was in Kainuu and Southern Lapland, where snow depth was around 80cm across the region, and over a metre deep in parts of Ylä-Kainuu.

In contrast, there was less snow then normal in the most southern regions, the far north of Lapland, and parts of Eastern Finland, with particularly low quantities of snow in Northwest Lapland. At the end of the month there was unusually high snowfall in the region stretching from Kainuu to Sea Lapland, with snow depth increasing in Torppi, Tornio, by 30cm in just three days.

Further information:

For weather statistics, call the climate service on: +358 (0)600 1 0601 (€4.01/min + local call charge)

Weather statistics for January: http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/tammikuu (in Finnish)

The Finnish Meteorological Institute's Meteorologists on Twitter: http://twitter.com/meteorologit (in Finnish)

The Finnish Meteorological Institute's science news coverage on Twitter: http://twitter.com/IlmaTiede (in Finnish)