Summer temperature record broken on Tuesday

The record temperature for this summer was broken in various parts of Ostrobothnia on Tuesday. The highest temperatures of +29.3°C were measured in Ylistaro and Kauhava in Southern Ostrobothnia, while in Haapavesi the readings were +29.1°C at their warmest.
      On Tuesday, the heat wave swept across most parts of the country.
      The previous record temperature this year of +29°C was registered on June 9th. It was measured in Suomusjärvi in Western Finland.
      The warm air mass brought by a high-pressure system, settled on the western side of Finland, is dominating the weather, reports duty meteorologist Teija Siitola from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The warm weather is predicted to continue for a few days more.
     
Large rafts of blue-green algae have also been found in Finnish coastal waters. Observations have been made in the southern part of the Archipelago Sea, in the sea areas south of the Aland islands, as well as in the western part of the Gulf of Finland. Algal blooms can also be seen in the eastern part of the Finnish Gulf.
      The hot summer has favoured the growth of blue-green algae, and according to researcher Seija Hällfors from the Finnish Institute of Marine Research (FIMR), algal concentrations are expected to expand in sea areas if the current weather conditions continue.
      Provided that the warm weather continues, expectations are for a good grain crop. However, the weather conditions can change the situation rapidly. For example, last week heavy rain flattened the crops in several places.
     
This year’s blueberry and lingonberry crops appear to be better than average. The blueberry season is drawing to an end in Southern and Central Finland, while lingonberries will ripen by mid-August.
      Kauko Salo, a senior researcher at the Finnish Forest Research Institute, notes that there are already plenty of wild mushrooms in Finnish forests, even though the crop of boletus edulis, or cepe mushrooms, has so far been a disappointment.
     
Wednesday is predicted to be sunny and hot all over the country, while on Thursday some more unsettled conditions are anticipated. Moreover, next weekend can still be hot across the country except in Lapland.
      The high pressure system will gradually recede towards the east, while a low pressure system is strengthening. Towards the end of the week, some rain and thunder can be expected.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Summer storm causes damage across Southern Finland (1.8.2007)
  First blueberry day exceeds expectations for Thai pickers (7.8.2007)

Links:
  Finnish Meteorological Institute
  Finnish Institute of Marine Research (FIMR)
  Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA)