In southern Finland lake water temperatures have been measured at nearly 20 degrees Celsius, while the reading for Lake Inari in northern Finland reached just seven degrees.

The warmest water temperature recorded today was in Kyrölahti in Näsijärvi, at a steamy 19.8 degrees. That reading surpassed the average of 10.2 degrees. Form the south to the heights of Kainuu temperatures varied between 12 and 20 degrees Celcius. In Lapland water lovers still face a chilling experience, with lakes such as Kilpisjärvi remaining under 70 centimeters of ice.

From Kainuu down to the south, water temperatures vary significantly depending on location. Ponds and low lying lakes have also warmed up to near the 20-degree mark, while deep lakes and other large water bodies are already at 12 – 13 degrees, pushing water temperatures across the country some 3 – 9 degrees above average.

Hydrologist Johanna Korhonen of the Finnish Environmental Administration said that the heating up of the waters has been caused by the current weather conditions and do not indicate what the final summer readings will be. She pointed out that as winds pick up, they very quickly churn the waters, causing the lakes to cool.