The Gulf of Finland is currently witnessing a nearly unprecedented situation with most of its waters frozen. While Russian media reported that the Gulf is entirely frozen, Finnish meteorologist Jari Tuovinen clarified that it is about 95% covered in ice, with a small area near the eastern edge of Hiiumaa, Estonia, remaining unfrozen. This freezing is significant as the water temperature is around zero degrees Celsius, and it is expected that even this last unfrozen area will eventually freeze over.

Tuovinen also explained that the freezing of the Gulf is likely to be temporary, as conditions are expected to change. He noted that typically, the maximum extent of ice coverage occurs during the first week of March before temperatures rise and winds break up the ice. This unusual extent of freezing in the Baltic Sea has become increasingly rare, indicating changes in environmental conditions over recent years, which could point to broader climate trends affecting the region.

The report serves as a reminder of the extreme weather patterns that can emerge in the Northern Hemisphere during winter months and raises questions about how such occurrences may become less common in a warming climate. The event underscores the importance of monitoring climate impacts on regional weather patterns to better understand future changes in the marine ecosystem of the Baltic Sea and its surrounding areas.