November was particularly warm in Finland. Temperatures differed most from seasonal norms in Lapland, where conditions were up to six degrees warmer than usual.

This has affected the scenery in a heavily tourist-dependent part of the country – snowscapes have been late arriving in many beauty spots. Kilpisjärvi lake in northern Lapland was still partly unfrozen at the end of November, a new record.

The snow line extended from Kainuu to western Lapland, but some regions south of the line also have snow cover.

Exceptional sea ice situation

Finland's coastal areas are also unusually ice-free at the moment. At this time of year there is normally ice cover in the bay of Bothnia and the east of the Gulf of Finland, but at present there is no sea ice at all.

Last year the situation was completely different: all of Finland’s coastal waters were frozen. In the Bay of Bothnia at the northern tip of the Baltic Sea, the ice cover was 20-30cm thick.

Sledging conditions in Helsinki last December

At the start of December one year ago, the mercury dropped to around -15 degrees Celsius in Helsinki's Hakaniemi neighbourhood. Settling snow began falling in November and stayed for months.

Right now Helsinki is basking in relatively balmy weather of around five degrees above zero, with no ice to be seen and people ploughing through the rain.