Storm “Solomon” brings snow, cuts power as it sweeps through Finland

An unusual storm for this time of year has swept through western and northern Finland Wednesday night, June 8 and during the early morning hours of Thursday, June 9, 2016. The storm downed trees, cut power supply to up to 14 000 households and brought about 4 cm (1.57 inches) of snow to parts of Finish Lapland.

The hardest hit regions were the western coastal areas of Ostrobothnia and central Ostrobothnia where emergency crews responded to over 140 calls during the night and early morning, mostly due to downed trees and other wind damage, Yle reports. 

Wind speed of about 86.4 km/h (53.7 mph) was measured at Pietarsaari, wind gusts were up to 108 km/h (67 mph). Snowfall was seen especially on the fells of Lapland and in the Saariselkä region which recorded as much as 4 cm in some localities.

The storm, dubbed "Solomon" is unusual both in duration and intensity, and because winds are blowing from the northwest, Ilta-Sanomat reported. During the morning hours of June 9, a total of 38 municipalities were without electricity, the paper reported.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute warns that the north wind may be dangerously strong today in Satakunta, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme, Pirkanmaa, central Finland as well as in the entire Ostrobothnia, with the exception of parts of northern Ostrobothnia.

Snow and sleet are present on roads, making travel difficult. Delays in rail traffic are expected today. The storm has also caused some ship shifts cancellations in the Gulf of Finland as well as at least one domestic flight cancellation.

Highs winds are expected to die down as evening approaches and the low pressure area responsible for the stormy weather moves eastward.

Featured image: Wind, temperature, and precipitation model for June 9, 2016 – 11:00 UTC. Credit: Meteo Earth