March was exceptionally mild in the southern part of the country

According to the statistics of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the average temperature in March varied from just over +2 degrees Celsius in the southwest of the country to around –7 degrees Celsius in Käsivarsi, Northern Lapland. The average temperature in March was higher than usual throughout the country, even exceptionally high in the southern part of the country. For example, the monthly average temperature at the Helsinki Kaisaniemi observation station was +2.8 degrees, which is the second highest in the observation history of the station. Only in 2007 was March even milder in Kaisaniemi. In addition, the +2.5 degrees March average temperature in Kaarina Yltöinen is a new record for the station in its 98-year observation history.

The highest temperature in March was 14.9 degrees, measured at Mikkeli airport, on 31 March. The lowest temperature, in contrast, was –32.5 degrees, measured at Kevojärvi in Utsjoki Kevo, on 15 March.

Precipitation was close to normal in a large part of the country

March was fairly normal in terms of precipitation, with lower than usual precipitation mainly in the southern part of the country. The greatest amount of precipitation for March was 63.5 millimetres, recorded at the Kilpisjärvi village centre observation station in Enontekiö. The lowest amount of precipitation, 2.8 mm, was recorded at the Kustavi Isokari observation station. The greatest precipitation in a single day, 28.1 mm, was recorded at the Kilpisjärvi village centre observation station, on 18 March.

On the last day of March, the snow cover had largely melted from the southern and western parts of the country. In Central Finland, North Savo, North Karelia and Kainuu, there was approximately 20–50 centimetres of snow. In Lapland, snow depth was approximately 30–80 centimetres, with the exception of the northernmost area of Kilpisjärvi, where snow depth was nearly 140 centimetres at the end of the month. Apart from Central and Northern Lapland, the snow depth in Finland was lower than usual at the end of the month, and unusually or even exceptionally low in the central parts of the country.

The entire country saw a usual number of sunshine hours.

Further information

Climate statistics in Finland

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Weather statistics from the Climate Service on weekdays, tel. +358 600 1 0601 (€ 4.06/min + local network fee)