Flooding in the worst-hit areas of North Ostrobothnia is set to peak on Saturday. Although the water level of Siikajoki river is still rising by about two centimetres per hour, this is expected to stop by later Saturday.

Record volumes of water are flowing at Merikoski, along the lower reaches of Oulujoki river. However, the water level of Lake Oulujärvi is already stabilising.

With no more rains forecast, hydrologist Bertel Vehviläinen from the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) estimates that the situation at Lake Oulujärvi and the Oulujoki river should not yield any more unpleasant surprises.

With water levels already coming down, the damage from flooding around Kalajoki and Pyhäjoki rivers was not as extensive as around Siikajoki river, according to SYKE.

Although the flooding seems to be slowly receding, no immediate respite is in sight for the soaked areas.

At Mankila, along the Siikajoki river, for instance, flood waters have covered up to 3,000 hectares of farmland.

“Unfortunately this area will stay covered by water for this week,” Vehviläinen says.

The flow of Oulujoki river may remain at record levels for one week more also. According to SYKE estimates, this will probably remain strong for the whole month of August, as lots of water is still flowing into Lake Oulujärvi from lakes higher up.