Finland braces for potentially record-breaking thunderstorm day

Finland is anticipating a day of significant severe weather on Friday, with the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) warning it could be the most lightning-rich day of the current thunderstorm season.

Thunderstorms are expected across nearly the entire country. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for the Uusimaa region starting from midday. The FMI forecasts that thunderstorms in the central and northern parts of Finland could be particularly intense, bringing rain rates exceeding 20 millimeters per hour. Meteorologist Jani Sorsa cautioned that strong wind gusts associated with these storms could lead to power outages, and the heavy rainfall might cause localized flooding in urban areas.

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It is advisable to move items in your yard to safety.

"It is advisable to move items in your yard to safety," Sorsa advised. The storm front is predicted to move from the western parts of Finland eastward towards the northeast throughout the day. The most severe thunderstorms and heaviest rainfall are expected to hit the central and northern regions in the afternoon and evening. Wind gusts in the most severe storms could reach approximately 25 meters per second, while other storms might see gusts around 15 meters per second.

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It is worth monitoring the weather's development, as conditions can be very variable.

Temperatures could reach heat levels in some areas, potentially up to 27 degrees Celsius in eastern Finland. The western coast is expected to remain cooler, with temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius. Sorsa noted that temperatures might rise to heat levels just before the thunderstorms arrive. The weather is expected to remain variable over the weekend, with thunderstorms most likely in central Finland on Saturday. Temperatures could reach up to 25 degrees Celsius on Saturday as well.

"It is worth monitoring the weather's development, as conditions can be very variable," Sorsa concluded, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the upcoming weather patterns.

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The day could become, for the current thunderstorm season, the most lightning-rich so far.