A recent heavy snowfall, referred to as "tykkylumi" in Finland, led to a significant power outage in Oulu, impacting about 23,000 households. The incident happened when the accumulated snow suddenly fell off the power lines, creating a precarious situation that prompted safety measures. The outage occurred in the early hours of the morning and lasted for approximately half an hour, which subsequently disrupted heat distribution in the region as well.

Linda Webster, the marketing and communications director of Oulun Energia, provided further insight into the incident, explaining that the company had to release water through the Merikoski dam gates to manage the situation. This operation has resulted in weakened ice conditions on the Oulu River, raising safety concerns. The authorities had to cancel a training exercise for rescue divers initially scheduled to take place under the ice on the river, deeming the conditions too dangerous for such activities.

The phenomenon of "tykkylumi" is known to cause occasional electricity distribution issues, and Oulun Energia is actively working to mitigate the adverse impacts of these snowfall events in the future. This incident highlights the necessity for improved infrastructure resilience against extreme weather conditions, as climate patterns continue to evolve, increasing the frequency and intensity of such weather-related disruptions.