Helsinki, February 2, 2026 – The Europe Today: Southern Finland experienced its coldest night of the winter early on Friday, with temperatures dropping to -31.5°C in Lappeenranta, according to weather service Foreca. Clear skies across much of the country allowed severe frost to intensify, affecting southern, central, and northern regions.
Foreca meteorologist Joanna Rinne reported that the reading at Lappeenranta Konnunsuo was the lowest of the season for southern Finland. Other locations also recorded their coldest temperatures of the winter, including Vihti at -29.3°C, Hyvinkää at -26.7°C, and both Helsinki-Vantaa and Salo Kärkkä at -25.3°C.
In central Finland, cloud cover limited the temperature drop, with overnight readings generally ranging between -15°C and -20°C.
Lapland saw widespread temperatures below -30°C. The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at -35.6°C in Utsjoki Kevo Kevojärvi. However, the coldest reading of the winter so far remains -42.8°C, measured in Tulppio, Savukoski, on January 9.
Dry and frosty conditions are expected to continue nationwide through the weekend, with the lowest temperatures occurring during clear nights. A change in conditions is forecast for northern Lapland on Saturday, where strengthening south-westerly winds will combine with temperatures of -15°C to -20°C, resulting in harsher wind chill effects.
In Saariselkä, the “feels like” temperature is forecast to drop to -37°C on Saturday morning, despite actual air temperatures of around -27°C, due to the combined effects of wind and humidity.
Elsewhere, most of the country is expected to remain dry, although cloudier areas may experience light snowfall. Daytime temperatures in southern and central Finland are forecast to range between -15°C and -25°C over the weekend, while Lapland is expected to see daytime readings of -20°C to -30°C on Saturday.
As cloud cover increases and winds strengthen in the north, the most extreme cold is likely to ease slightly. By Sunday, temperatures in Lapland are forecast to rise to between -10°C and -20°C, while freezing conditions are expected to persist elsewhere, with daytime highs mainly between -15°C and -25°C.
Foreca forecasts that the harshest conditions will gradually ease next week. Although no major weather changes are anticipated, daytime temperatures may rise modestly to between -10°C and -20°C in many areas, with some regions potentially seeing temperatures approach single digits below zero by the end of the week.
Overall, the pattern of partly cloudy skies and dry weather is expected to continue, with occasional light snowfall in some areas. Despite a brief moderation, colder air may return in the following week, though no significant shifts in the broader weather pattern are currently expected.
