Dark clouds and a rain front in Naantali. Photo: Laura Ukkonen / Lehtikuva
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Thunderstorms and intense rain showers moved across southern and western Finland on Tuesday, prompting severe weather warnings in several regions.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) issued thunderstorm alerts for Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Satakunta, Päijät-Häme, Kanta-Häme, the Kvarken area and the western Gulf of Finland. The warnings, in place until 18:00, cited potential gusts of more than 15 metres per second, with hail possible in western areas.
In the capital region, showers began early in the morning. A large rain cell passed over Helsinki shortly after 08:00, moving eastward. In Espoo, rainfall reached about 4 mm in an hour. Meteorologists forecast showers and isolated thunderstorms continuing through the afternoon, with some cells producing as much as 10 mm of rain in a short period. Daily totals could reach 10–20 mm.
Foreca meteorologist Joonas Koskela advised residents to prepare for wet conditions and possible minor urban flooding in built-up areas, recommending umbrellas and waterproof shoes.
The storm front also brought striking cloud formations to Helsinki. Yle meteorologist Henriikka Heikinoja identified them as shelf clouds, associated with heavy rain and thunder. “It was massive in size and impressive in appearance,” she said.
Across the country, weather conditions remained unstable. Northern Finland saw rain on Monday, with showers continuing into Tuesday before clearing overnight. In southern regions, temperatures were expected to peak just above 20°C, dipping briefly during heavier downpours before stabilising later in the evening.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
