Record-breaking April snowfall, up to 1.25 m (4 feet) engulfs parts of Finland

Parts of Northern and Central Finland received record-breaking amounts of snowfall in April 2020, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) reported. The greatest amounts were recorded at Paljakka and Sodankyla in Lapland, where up to 1.25 m (4.1 feet) of snow was registered.

At Sodonkayla, the Tahtela weather station saw 1.25 m (4.1 feet) on April 14, breaking the previous record of 1.19 m (3.9 feet) set on April 6, 2000.

It was the second record-breaking amount the station had for two days in a row. On April 13, Tahtela recorded 1.22 m (4 feet).

While much of Finland was considerably milder than usual in March, Northern Finland received greater amounts of snow, as well as portions of Central Finland. Southern Finland, on the other hand, has experienced one of the mildest winters.

Lapland also holds the highest snow water equivalent in the entire northern hemisphere,  according to Mika Rantanen, a researcher in Finnish Meteorological Institute and a meteorology Ph.D. student at the University of Helsinki. 

Over 250 mm (9.8 inches) widely and 300 mm (11.8 inches) locally were recorded. 

FMI meteorologists noted that record snowfall levels are not incompatible with existing findings on climate change and that the total temperature trends for the northern region have been increasing over the previous years.

Julie Celestial

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