Warnings about rains causing flooding
Warnings about heavy rains pertain to rains of both short and long duration. Heavy rains causing flooding occur in Finland mainly from spring to autumn.
The heaviest rains are usually recorded in late summer, when local 24-hour precipitation readings can exceed 100 millimetres.
Separate warnings can be given for heavy rains of long duration and for downpours of short duration. However, short-duration rains are associated with quickly developing thunder clouds that are more difficult to predict than extensive rain areas.
Rain warnings use three warning limits:
Warning about heavy rain of long duration: warning limits:
50 (yellow),
70 (orange) and
120 (red) millimetres per 24 hours
Warning about a downpour of short duration: warning limits:
20 (yellow),
30 (orange) and
45 (red) millimetres per hour.
Warnings on heavy rains are issued as much as five days in advance.