A record-breaking 22-day heatwave scorched northern Finland this summer, delivering a sweltering blow to the Arctic Circle—an area usually defined by its chill. The Finnish Meteorological Institute confirms this is the longest stretch of temperatures soaring above 30°C (86°F) since records began in 1961—far surpassing the previous high of 13 consecutive days in 1972. In Rovaniemi, the Arctic town famed as Santa Claus’s hometown, thermometers climbed dramatically higher than the usual summer temperatures of around 20°C (68°F).
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) reported that Ylitornio at the Arctic circle near the border with Sweden saw temperatures above 27°C (81°F) for 26 consecutive days—the longest period of hot weather ever recorded in the region. “Nothing like it has ever been previously recorded in Finnish Lapland,” Mika Rantanen, meteorologist at the FMI, said in a press release. The FMI reported that conditions were “unusually warm” across the entire country and classified temperatures in central Finland as “exceptionally hot.”
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, July was globally on average 16.68°C (62.02°F) which is 0.45 degrees above the 1991–2020 average and 1.25 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels. In Europe, the average temperature in July was 21.12°C (70.02°F). Europe and the Arctic are warming at a faster rate than the remainder of the planet. The Arctic is warming at 0.69° per decade, while Europe is warming at 0.54° per decade and the whole planet is warming at 0.26° per decade.
Lapland’s famous reindeer who are adapted for living in the cold tundra, have been facing severe distress. Herders reported struggling herds, even fatalities, as the animals overheated and dehydration set in under relentless heat. Anne Ollila, director of Finland’s Reindeer Herders’ Association, said that while the animals can cope well in freezing temperatures, heat is “a different story.” Reindeers have been suffering in the heat as they overheat when running from predators, such as wolves. “They are unable to regulate their body temperature sufficiently and overheat,” Ollila explained. Thankfully there were no mass deaths reported, but reindeer were found outside of forests, seeking shelter near human settlements, including people’s backyards and beaches.
But not only the reindeer struggled. When the Rovaniemi emergency room was flooded with elderly citizen from the unprecedented heatwave, the town opted to open its local ice rink to help people cool down.
Not far from Rovaniemi is the famous ski resort Levi, which is about 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest of Santa Claus’ village. It’s one of Finland’s largest ski resorts, located well above the Arctic Circle. Each year, Levi and Ruka, which is in the southwest just below the Arctic circle, are the first resorts in Europe to open in the first week of October. While it is hard to imagine in light of the heatwave, both resorts have always been able to open thanks to snow-farming and this year is no exception, with the season opening slated for October 3.
