Spring could still come on schedule

Snow and sleet hampers traffic overnight and on Friday morning

print this

Although March has felt exceptionally cold, those in Finland yearning for spring need not worry: the coming of the season is not behind schedule quite yet. However, if a change does not come soon, it may well be.
      “If cold conditions continue a week from now, the spring will start being late in Southern Finland. The thermal spring begins at the Kaisaniemi weather station in Helsinki on March 27th on the average”, says meteorologist Hannu Valta of the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
      The thermal spring means that the average temperature for an entire day rises above freezing point.
     
Valta adds, however, that daytime temperatures in the southern part of Finland are usually above 0°C at this time of the year. This year, however, temperatures have been below zero even during the day, which means that the snow has not yet started to melt.
      “In that respect, we are later than usual. In Southern Finland, the snow load is exceptionally heavy - about 130 kilos per square metre."
     
The snow might even increase from what it is now, as snow and sleet is forecast for the weekend.
      On Friday morning conditions on the roads were again tricky as a belt of snoiw and sleet swept over large parts of the country, leaving main highways snowy and slushy as snowploughs fought to keep up.
      There were a good many road accidents overnight. Most were fender-benders, but some serious injuries were reported, and heavy vehicles have also been in trouble with the slippery conditions. Matters did not improve much during the morning rush-hour on Friday.
     
Looking ahead, if April proves to be chilly, the First of May might be celebrated with snow on the ground in most parts of Finland - possibly even in the south.
      “If temperatures rise quickly, accompanied by rain, there will be a danger of floods. The risk of flooding is high especially in the south of the country”, Valta observes.
      The most susceptible waterways for flooding are small rivers. Along the snowy south coast, these include the Vantaa and Porvoo rivers.
     
Although the winter is still in full swing in Finland, some migratory birds have already arrived.
      One reason for this is that the migration is triggered by a number of factors, including the increasing amount of daylight.
      However, the weather is still the main factor in determining when the birds start coming. A mild southwesterly flow of air is what will get the big flocks on the move.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki struggles with towering drifts of snow (2.2.2010)
  Here to stay? Snow cleared from capital area´s streets and public places may not melt before next winter (10.3.2010)
  GUEST COLUMN: Winter mayhem could be reduced by listening to researchers (9.3.2010)

Helsingin Sanomat