In Finland, the winter vacations for schools commence today, with staggered breaks across different regions. Schoolchildren from the capital region, as well as Pori and Turku, are beginning their holidays, while students from Hämeenlinna, Kotka, Mikkeli, and Tampere will have their breaks during the ninth week of the year. The last group to take their vacation includes students from Northern and Eastern Finland, who will be off in early March.

According to preliminary forecasts from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the winter vacation weeks are expected to experience cold and wintry weather throughout the country. This winter weather is likely to impact travel plans, as the winter vacations coincide with the time when many families typically travel for skiing and leisure activities in northern Finland, which is popular for winter tourism.

Fintraffic, the Finnish traffic monitoring center, anticipates today and tomorrow will be among the busiest days for travel as families embark on their winter holidays. They report that traffic is expected to increase significantly after noon today, potentially leading to delays, especially on the exit routes from the capital region as well as on highways 4, 5, and 9, stretching as far as Jyväskylä and Mikkeli. Motorists travelling near popular northern tourist destinations should also prepare for potential traffic congestion.