October was cool and stormy with plenty of snow

According to statistics of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, October was cooler than average in all parts of the country. Average temperatures for the month varied between approximately -4 degrees in Enontekiö and +7 degrees in the Southwest Archipelago. In the south, October was about one degree cooler than the averages for the 1991-2020 period. In the Ostrobothnia Region and Western Lapland, the deviation was about -3 degrees which is rare; October is this cool once every ten years on average.

The highest temperature for the month, 16.7 degrees, was recorded at the Mäkiluoto Observation Station in Kirkkonummi. The lowest temperature for the month, -23.5 degrees, was measured on October 31 at Kittilä Airport

Precipitation was heaviest on the South Coast and the coast of the Bay of Bothnia, and thanks to heavy precipitation on the last day of the month, in the area around the municipality of Joutsa. According to preliminary information, precipitation was heaviest in Virolahti, reaching 160.8 millimetres. The lowest amount of precipitation was at the Kaamanen observation station - 15.8 millimetres. Precipitation was lower than usual in Eastern and Northern Lapland. In other parts of the country total precipitation was normal or above normal.

Coastal areas of Northern Ostrobothnia got a record amount of precipitation. For example, the 124.9 millimetres measured in Ruukki in Siikajoki was the highest amount recorded in the 123 years that the observation station has been in operation.

Powerful storms and the first snow for a large part of the country

Powerful depressions occurred in Finland in October. The strong gusts of the storm Pirjo blew down trees on October 6-8 in southern and central parts of the country. In the same connection the first snow occurred earlier than usual in Southern Lapland and Northern Karelia.

The storm Otso on 11-12 October toppled trees in southern and central areas and caused heavy snowfall in Lapland. On 14-15 October a powerful depression caused local wind damage especially on the south coast. The depression brought the deepest morning snow cover of the month, 38 centimetres, at the Kenttärova observation station in Kittilä on the October 15th.

On the last day of October, a depression brought heavy snowfall to western parts of Finland. Pirkanmaa was warned about extremely poor driving conditions caused by blowing snow and freezing rain. More than ten centimetres of snow came down in Satakunta and Pirkanmaa and the snowfall continued into November.

Winds were stronger than average in southern parts of the country, while central areas had less wind than usual. Stormy conditions occurred at sea on eight days. Normally, October has just three stormy days at sea.

Southern areas got a normal amount of sunshine, while other parts of the country got slightly more direct sunlight than usual.

Further information:

Meteorologists call a weather phenomenon exceptional when its statistical occurrence is three times or less in 100 years on average. A phenomenon is seen as rare when it occurs less frequently than once every ten years on average.

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