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    How cold does it get in Finland in winter?

    Typical winter temperatures and the extremes in different regions.

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    Short answer

    It depends on where you are. Visit Finland gives typical winter temperatures of -3 to -8 °C in Helsinki and -10 to -20 °C in Rovaniemi, and Lapland can reach -30 °C. The Finnish Meteorological Institute says the coldest temperatures of a winter are usually -45 to -50 °C in Lapland and eastern Finland and -25 to -35 °C on the coasts.

    Weather & Seasons

    Why

    1. Visit Finland lists winter temperatures of -10 to -20 °C in Rovaniemi and -3 to -8 °C in Helsinki.
    2. FMI says the coldest winter temperatures are -45 to -50 °C in Lapland and eastern Finland.
    3. According to FMI, the coldest time of year is usually late January, or early February on the coast.

    Details

    The sea keeps the coast milder than the inland. Winters vary a lot: some years Helsinki has long spells around zero with rain, others weeks of hard frost.

    Tip

    Check the wind as well as the temperature. Minus 10 with a sea wind in Helsinki can feel colder than minus 20 on a still day in Lapland.

    What may differ

    Climate warming has made winters milder: winter is the season that has warmed most in Finland, by roughly 2 to 3 degrees since the 1880s.

    Common misconception

    Helsinki is as cold as Lapland in winter.

    What actually happens

    Helsinki is usually more than ten degrees milder than central Lapland thanks to the sea.

    People also ask

    • How cold is Helsinki in January?
    • What is the average winter temperature in Finland?
    • Is Finland colder than Sweden?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the forecast of the Finnish Meteorological Institute before you travel.

    Weather & Seasons
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