High hopes for white Christmas all over Finland

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Snow has been predicted for Christmas almost all over Finland. The probability of a white Christmas is uncertain only in South-Western Finland and on the southern coast of the country.
      Duty meteorologist Mikko Jäntti from the Finnish Meteorological Institute predicted that two low pressure systems are to be expected in quick succession. The decisive days will be Wednesday and Thursday.
      Wednesday is expected to be windy all over the country. Particularly the western sea areas will be stormy, and the wind can be dangerously strong on land, too, as a front sweeps in from the Norwegian Sea.
     
The storm centre will bring precipitation which can vary from rain in Southern Finland to sleet and snow in eastern and northern districts, where the snowfall can be quite heavy.
      The next, rather smaller low pressure area appears likely to move in overnight between Thursday and Friday, but its route cannot be predicted with any accuracy yet. Whether the precipitation in Southern Finland will come in the form of rain, sleet, or snow depends on the route. However, snow will fall in northern districts and most likely even in South-Eastern Finland.
      According to Jäntti, precipitation is expected to be the heaviest on Thursday evening and the following night.
     
In the course of Christmas Eve, precipitation is expected to recede at least in the southern and central parts of the country. Even a slight frost is predicted.
      On Christmas Day, the temperatures are likely to be -2° to -3°C in southern parts, and close to -10°C in Central Finland. In Lapland the temperature can even go down to -10° to -20°C.
      The current snow cover is extending from south to north except for Ostrobothnia and Åland. The largest amounts of snow are found in Northern Finland as well as in the eastern parts of North Karelia.
     
Today is also the shortest day of the year.
      Optimists will point out that from now on the days are only going to get longer and the nights shorter, until we reach Midsummer.
      But even with the new snow helping to provide some more light, it will be a long wait.


Links:
  Finnish Meteorological Institute

Helsingin Sanomat