Finland is bracing for strong winds affecting its western and southern regions this Friday and Saturday, as meteorologist Sara Salonen from Foreca reports that winds have already intensified along the West Coast with gusts surpassing storm levels of 21 meters per second. Although the strongest winds are expected to remain over marine areas, storm gusts could still affect coastal areas of the western coastline on Friday.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued wind warnings for land areas including Varsinais-Suomi, Satakunta, Pohjanmaa, and Etelä-Pohjanmaa, where gusts could reach speeds of up to 20 meters per second. Additionally, maritime zones are forecasted to experience significant wave heights exceeding 4 meters, which could lead to hazardous conditions and challenges for maritime traffic.

Salonen further warns that strong winds may uproot individual trees and cause power outages along the western coastline. In inland areas, particularly in West Finland, wind speeds are expected to be brisk, ranging from 8 to 13 meters per second, with stronger gusts of up to 15 meters per second likely to occur throughout Friday.