In the northernmost parts of the long country that is Finland, the spring is well behind the south, and the peak of the spring flood season is still on its way.
According to the Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, the spring floods in the great rivers of the province of Lapland will reach their peak only towards the end of May, and in the Tornionjoki River as late as in early June.
The worst flood damage is expected in the Ounasjoki River in the Kittilä region.
“Over there the ground is low-lying. In 2005 the flood damages were counted in millions of euros”, master builder Risto Lampela points out.
The ice cover of the rivers of Lapland has been exceptionally weak this year. This has made it impossible to operate the ice-sawing machines that are normally deployed to prevent floods caused by blockages owing to ice-dams.
In Lapland, there is still plenty of snow on the ground in places. The thickest snow cover of around 90 centimetres is found in Kittilä.
According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the frosty nights in late April and early May have slowed down the melting of snow, but now they seem to be relinquishing their grip.
