Finland is a country of contrasts, not just in a
geographical sense but also in its climate. The country has four distinctly
different seasons that transform the white winter wonderland to a green leafy
summer in just a few months. Temperatures during the year vary considerably and
-30C in winter and +30C in summer are not uncommon! And this is exactly what
this card sent to me Britta from Raseburg in Southern Finland is trying to depict.
Summer– warm and fair, rain ample, nature green. Summer in Finland
roughly lasts from June to August. The summer is the season of the Midnight Sun
and nights are bright. In Lapland, for two months from June to July, the sun
never sets! Even elsewhere in the country the sun only disappears below the
horizon for a few hours. Summers in Finland are generally warm and in
fact, the average temperatures are higher than those in the UK. Temperatures
tend to stay around +15C-+25C, but temperatures of +30C are not unheard of.
Winter– snowy in the north; Northern Lights shine through Lapland nights. Winter in Finland lasts
roughly from December to March, but the snowfall in Lapland might start as
early as October and last till mid-May. The crisp winter days invite you to
admire the beautiful frozen trees and lakes, whereas if you feel more
energetic, there are thrilling activities such as snowmobiling, husky and
reindeer safaris to try. The clear, dark nights are ideal for spotting the
Northern Lights.
Autumn– forests aglow with tinted foliage. Autumn months September to
November see Finland's forest landscape turn into a splendid and unforgettable
array of red and gold known as "ruska". This is the season when it
rains the most and when the nature starts preparing for a new snowfall in the
forthcoming winter. Temperatures start dropping and might start dipping
below the zero during the nights. In daytime, temperatures hover around +5C to
+15C. The moderate temperatures of autumn make this season ideal for cycling or
hiking along the many woodland trails, while it is also popular to pick newly
appeared wild blueberries, raspberries, lingonberries, cloudberries and
mushrooms, that all make a large part of a Finnish diet. Days again start
getting shorter and nights darker.
Spring– brings in the thaw. Spring months April and May bring Finland much welcomed
light and warmer temperatures. Days are quickly starting to get longer and the
snow starts melting in the South, Western Lakes and Lakeland mid-April, while
in the northern Lapland the snow might well not start melting before May. The
further North you will go, the later the spring arrives.
Lapland alone keeps its vernal snow for winter sport