Midsummer begins with rain and ends with sunshine

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According to the forecasts, it will be worth packing both an umbrella and sunscreen for the upcoming Midsummer weekend: the entire country will see variable weather over this year's holiday.
      On Friday, the unsettled conditions will offer rain and even the possibility of thunderstorms in Southern and Central Finland. Temperatures are expected to drop below 20°C.
      Even Northern Lapland will see occasional rain showers.
      However, the weather will become dry in most parts of the country already in the evening of Midsummer Eve.
     
The best Midsummer weather will be enjoyed in Eastern Finland, which could escape the rain entirely. The temperature will remain above 20°C in both Northern and Eastern Finland.
      "While the forecast may still change somewhat towards the end of the week, it is certain that rain showers will be experienced somewhere in Finland", says Meteorologist Hanna Hannuniemi of the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
      On Midsummer Day, the rain will be less prevalent across the country as a whole, but thundery showers are expected in Central and Northern Finland. The temperatures will be over 20°C in Western and Eastern Finland, and around 20°C in the other parts of the country.
     
On Sunday, the weather will improve still further, and even hot spells with the temperature rising over 25°C will be experienced in many areas. Occasional thunderstorms are forecast for Northern Lapland only.
      People planning boat trips are advised to be prepared for showers with thundery squalls, particularly on Midsummer Eve. The weather off the coast is predicted to be fresh and windy over the entire Midsummer weekend.
     
The swimming waters in the country as a whole are slightly warmer than average because of the recent warm sunny weather.
      In Southern and Central Finland, the temperatures of lakes and rivers are around 20°C, and occasionally the water can be even warmer.
     
Particularly those people attending festivals keep a very close eye on the weather forecast. However, no major changes to arrangements will be made because of rain, says Riku Räsänen, who is in charge of the Raumanmeri Midsummer Music Festival in the coastal city of Rauma.
      "The festival arrangements are always made on the assumption that it will rain. It is an added bonus if it doesn't", says Räsänen.
      In any event, the rainy weather will typically decrease the box office income of festivals.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Midsummer weather contains something for everybody (22.6.2005)

Links:
  Finnish Meteorological Institute
  Finnish Road Administration

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