Severe cold combined with unusual humidity caused aircraft refueling operations at Rovaniemi Airport to slow dramatically, with some flights waiting hours for fueling. Airlines were asked to carry enough fuel to avoid refueling in Rovaniemi until conditions improve.
An extreme cold spell in Finnish Lapland led several daycares in Rovaniemi to keep children indoors as temperatures fell to about −33°C. In eastern Lapland (Savukoski), daycares reported even colder conditions (around −43°C) and limited outdoor activity due to health and frostbite concerns.
Authorities in Rovaniemi warn that river ice is extremely weak and going onto the ice is life‑threatening. Locals and businesses are urged not to set a bad example for tourists unfamiliar with ice safety.
Finland saw a sharp turn to winter with temperatures down to –20°C in Lapland and widespread snowfall, prompting traffic weather warnings in eastern and northern regions.
Finland’s Lapland experienced an unusually warm October with much less snow than normal; only the far north of Enontekiö has snow, and no change is expected next week, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
In Rovaniemi, a resident observed globeflowers (Trollius) blooming again in early September, an unusual second flowering for this early-summer species. The rare late bloom drew comment from a botany professor.
A lack of snow in Finland's far north has disappointed tourists and snowmobile safari operators alike.
A minor earthquake, described by one resident as "a proper jerk", shook Rovaniemi. Dozens of earthquakes are observed in Finland every year. Typically, however, they are relatively weak, with a magnitude of less than 4.
August 29th was the latest date ever recorded for an over-25-degree day in Finnish Lapland.
A swimming spot in northern Finland had unlikely visitors seeking solace from soaring temperatures.
On October 9, participants of the Youth Ecological Forum (IEF) attended a lecture by Mike Brook of the LEO Network. Participants who presented reports on northern biodiversity were particularly interested in the lecture. The delegation from Abyisky ulus prepared a report on “Cranes in the North-East of Yakutia and shared with the participants their observations of rare birds.
There are unusually low numbers of mosquitoes throughout Finland this sweltering summer – and likely fewer than usual next year as well.
As the chart below shows, there’s no let up until early August when the temperatures could start to fall back toward more normal summer levels. Even in Finnish Lapland, the home of Santa, a new heat record of 33.4 degrees Celsius (92 Fahrenheit) was reached on Wednesday.
The highest flood levels in Finland's measurement history are predicted to hit Rovaniemi. The cities of Tornio and Kittilä also expect extensive water damage.
New research finds that ticks are not only becoming more common in Finland but incidents of the tick-borne disease Borrelia - also known as Lyme disease - has grown exponentially in the past 20 years.
Unseasonably cold weather is keeping birds from nesting and delaying the blossoming of wild berry bushes in Finland's north.
An art exhibition at Rovaniemi’s Korundi cultural center was temporarily closed after prolonged severe cold caused indoor temperatures to drop below 15°C, prompting staff to move artworks to safer conditions.
Temperatures in Rovaniemi exceeded 30 °C this week, drawing coverage from Reuters and CNN as the Finnish Meteorological Institute warned that Lapland’s all-time heat record could be broken.
Observations From Members 
