Temperatures on Sunday did not reach the record for May, 31 degrees, which was recorded in Eastern Uusimaa in 1995.

However the magical 25-degree Celsius mark was surpassed as far north as Sodankylä, Lapland. Twenty-five degrees (77 degrees Fahrenheit) is considered 'hot' by Finnish standards.

The temperature surpassed 28 degrees in Utti, south-east Finland, and Kokemäki in the west.

Cooler conditions are expected for the rest of the week, although the mercury may climb past 25 in the south on Monday.

Fires in Ostrobothnia

The recent dry, warm weather has helped spark many forest fires.

Yesterday a blaze destroyed about three hectares of forest in Ylivieska, western Finland. Firefighters battled another large grassfire in Veteli, also in Ostrobothnia. Further north in Nivala, another fire razed more than a hectare of woodland. No one was hurt in any of the fires.

A forest fire alert is in effect throughout southern and central Finland.

Several Drownings Mar Weekend

The warmth also enticed many people onto and into the water. At least four people drowned during the weekend.

On Sunday a man was found drowned in Merikarvia, near Pori. Police found the body after a report of an empty boat adrift.

In Heinävesi, South Savo, the search continued on Sunday for a man believed to have drowned on Friday. He was fishing with two other men. The others managed to make it to safety after their boat was capsized by a strong current.

The remains of a man were found in the water near Helsinki's Kaivopuisto district. Police believe he is a man who disappeared last summer. Foul play is not suspected.

Also in Helsinki, a young man drowned on Friday at Pikkukoski on the River Vantaa. In the town of Hattula in Häme, an older man drowned near a shoreline, apparently after suddenly taking ill.

In the west-coast municipality of Larsmo, the operator of a backhoe drowned in a freak accident. The digger fell into the sea when the barge carrying it capsized.

Student Partying Peaceful

Festivities after the end of the school term on Saturday were mostly peaceful. Police and medical staff were kept busy, but generally the situation was calmer than they expected.

As comprehensive and high schools ended their school terms, some 65,000 youngsters received comprehensive school leaving certificates, while nearly 30,000 university-bound academic high school graduates earned the right to wear the traditional white caps. Another 32,000 graduated from vocational high schools.