This blog post summarizes a recent weather event in Finland that produced an intense cold snap and the local disruptions it caused. I unpack what happened in Kittilä, why aircraft and ski operations were affected, and why such extreme cold can still occur while the planet overall continues to warm.
What happened during the Finnish cold snap?
Finland experienced a deep freeze that prompted cold warnings across large areas of the country. The northern municipality of Kittilä, a hub for popular ski resorts, recorded extreme readings and operational problems.
Immediate impacts: travel, tourism and safety
The frigid conditions led to cancellations at Kittilä Airport, leaving thousands of tourists stranded at a time when the region is especially busy for winter sports. A number of local ski operations were disrupted; one resort even halted its chairlifts and gondolas as temperatures plunged into the negative 30s Celsius.
In Kittilä the Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasted temperatures approaching -40°C — a notable threshold because at that point Celsius and Fahrenheit coincide.
Beyond passenger inconvenience, the cold had practical consequences for aviation: severe temperatures hindered de-icing operations and complicated routine aircraft handling. Ground crews and travelers faced real hazards from equipment failures, frostbite risk, and extended exposure while airports adjusted schedules.
How does this cold snap fit into broader climate patterns?
At first glance, a dramatic cold event in northern Finland may seem at odds with headlines about global warming. Climate scientists emphasize that such isolated cold snaps are not evidence against human-caused climate change.
Arctic warming and jet stream dynamics
One mechanism reconciling cold outbreaks with long-term warming is Arctic amplification — the faster warming of the Arctic compared with mid-latitudes. This reduces the north–south temperature gradient that drives the jet stream, and can destabilize its path.
When the jet stream becomes more wavy or slower, it can allow cold Arctic air to plunge southward in isolated events while the long-term trend remains toward warmer average temperatures.
Research further suggests that these changes can alter seasonal behavior over Europe. Some studies indicate that continued Arctic-driven shifts could lengthen European summers by decades, changing preparedness-strategies/”>weather patterns, ecosystems, and infrastructure needs.
Where do recent temperature records stand?
Despite the Finnish cold wave, Europe overall recorded a warmer-than-average November, with the month ranking as the continent’s second-warmest on record. Many Finnish weather stations logged their second-warmest autumn.
Globally, the year-to-date period through November ranks among the warmest on record.
Key takeaways for policymakers and the public
We recommend maintaining robust monitoring. Improving cold- and heat-resilience in critical systems is also important.
Clear communication that short-term weather anomalies do not negate the longer-term climate signal is needed.
Here is the source article for this story: Thousands of tourists stranded after unexpected extreme weather leaves major region frozen over: ‘It’s simply too cold’