January was cold, dry and fairly cloudy
According to the statistics of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, January was colder than usual in the entire country. The average temperature of the month varied between approximately -2 degree Celsius in the Southwest Archipelago to just over -20 degrees in Lapland. The temperature deviation from the average for 1991–2020 varied between approximately -2°C in Åland and -10°C in Western Lapland. Apart from the fell areas, Lapland was unusually cold. In Lapland, the last colder January was, in many places, in 1987. South of Lapland, a colder January was experienced two years ago.
The highest temperature in January was 4.3 degrees, and it was measured in Lemland Nyhamn, on 17 January. The lowest temperature of the month was -42.8 degrees measured in Tulppio, Savukoski, on 9 January. This was the third coldest temperature recorded in Finland in the 2000s.
The low precipitation was reflected in the snow situation
Rainfall in January remained unusually or exceptionally low in many places. The month’s precipitation varied from 2.8 mm in Nuorgam, in Utsjoki, to 56.4 mm in Jomalaby. The highest daily precipitation, 16.6 mm, was recorded at the Långnäs harbour observation station in Lumparland, on 1 January.
In most parts of the country, rainfall in January was around 10 mm, which is roughly one quarter of normal. It was particularly dry in central parts of the country, where several observation stations recorded the lowest precipitation in their measurement history. The low precipitation areas included Jyväskylä Airport, Juupajoki Hyytiälä, Vieremä Kaarakkala and Lieksa Lampela, where the station’s measurement history extends over a hundred years.
The low precipitation is also visible in snow depths. At the end of the month, the central part of the country had unusually little snow, 10–30 centimetres below the average. The last time there was less snow in the least snowy areas this time of the year was in 2014. Only in Central Lapland was the snow depth above average.
The entire country had fewer hours of sunshine than usual.
Further information
Weather statistics from the Climate Service, tel. +358 600 1 0601 (€ 4.06/min + local network fee)
