Today, people across Finland woke up to brisk freezing temperatures, but a significant change in the weather is expected after Wednesday. According to Foreca's on-duty meteorologist, Sara Salonen, the most dramatic increase will occur in the western parts of the country, where temperatures plummeted to between -15 to -20 degrees Celsius on Wednesday morning. By Thursday afternoon, these areas could see temperatures rise to just above zero, marking a stark transition from one of the coldest winter phases back to milder conditions.

In southern Finland, temperatures will hover near zero on Thursday, while much of the rest of the country remains in freezing conditions. Friday will bring more widespread above-zero temperatures, especially in southern and central regions. For the Oulu area, temperatures are expected to approach the freezing point, signaling a shift in the long-standing frost. However, in Lapland, conditions will remain frosty with no immediate end in sight for the freezing temperatures, reflecting the diverse climate variations across the nation.

Additionally, the warmer weather is anticipated to extend into the weekend, but overnight temperatures could still dip below freezing due to reduced cloud cover and wind. This fluctuation could lead to slippery conditions on the roads, prompting warnings from the Finnish Meteorological Institute from Thursday to Saturday to ensure public safety during the transition to milder weather.