Northern summer varies from unusually warm exceptionally warm
Finland recorded 20 days with temperatures above 30 °C in July, while Norway noted an average temperature 2,8 °C above normal. That is not good news.
"The temperature during the warmest 14-day period in July is by far the highest recorded for Norway. It occurred between July 12 and 25 and affected all parts of the country," the Norwegian Meteorological Institute said in its July wrap-up.
"In total, more than 140 stations registered a heat wave. Of these, about 28 had 30 degrees for at least five consecutive days. Every county in Norway had stations that registered at least 30 degrees and a heat wave during the month," it said.
"We have to be prepared for this to happen more often in the future. It will be very important to focus on reducing emissions and climate adaptation," said Reidun Gangstø, climate researcher with the Meteorological Institute.
In northern Finland, the highest temperature, 32.6 °C, was measured in Oulu on the last day of the month.
"The deviation of the average temperature from normal was broadly 2–3 degrees, and 1–2 degrees in the direction of Inari and Utsjoki," statistics from the Finnish Meteorological Institute summed up.
Ylitornio, a municipality on the Arctic Circle, experienced heat throughout the second half of July, and the 21-day heat wave at the observation station is the longest in Lapland since 1961.
"As climate change progresses, exceptionally severe heatwaves will intensify. They are occurring more frequently, are more severe and last longer. Heat warnings and preparedness aim to reduce the harmful effects on the health of the elderly population and other groups vulnerable to heatwaves in particular," said Group Manager Heikki Tuomenvirta with the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
It was exceptionally warm in some places in the central part of Finland in July.
Meteorologists use the word exceptional when the statistical probability of a weather phenomenon occurring is on average three times in a hundred years or less.
Over the weekend, the Lapland Rescue Department responded to multiple wildfires, YLE reported.
In Lapland, wildfires were reported in Posio, Ranua, Tervola, Kittilä, Salla, Ivalo, Savukoski, Utsjoki, Pello, and Kemijärvi. Many of the fires were sparked by thunderstorm lightning strikes.
Northern Sweden added to the picture of a northern Scandinavia where impacts of climate changes are becoming the new normal.
Norrland, the northernmost country of Sweden, experienced an abnormal long period with heat.
"Long-term heat waves were noted at several stations in northern Norrland. The station in Haparanda reached 25 °C or more for 14 consecutive days, and in Jokkmokk the heat wave stretched over 15 days," the Swedish Meteorological Institute said.
