Wondering if you’ll experience a white Christmas in Finland? While southern Finland, including Helsinki, may have only a 50/50 chance of snow on Christmas, the odds improve as you head further north.
Cover picture Visit Porvoo © Visit Finland
For those eager to avoid a “black Christmas” without snow, Finland’s central and northern regions offer a much higher chance of a winter wonderland. But where should you go if you’re set on a snowy holiday?
In southern Finland, including Helsinki and the capital region, a snowy Christmas is not always guaranteed. However, in central and northern Finland, snow is much more reliable. For example, between 1981 and 2000, Helsinki saw snow on Christmas in 12 out of 20 years (60%). From 2001 to 2020, that dropped to only 10 out of 20 years, or 50%.
To give a clearer picture of where in Finland you’re most likely to enjoy a white Christmas, here’s a comparison of snowfall statistics in various cities:
1981-2000: 12 out of 20 (60%)
2001-2020: 10 out of 20 (50%)
1981-2000: 19 out of 20 (95%)
2001-2020: 17 out of 20 (85%)
1981-2000: 20 out of 20 (100%)
2001-2020: 18 out of 20 (90%)
1981-2000: 20 out of 20 (100%)
2001-2020: 20 out of 20 (100%)
These statistics help provide a clearer sense of where you can expect a snowy Christmas across Finland.
In Åland and the southwestern archipelago—eventually extending more broadly to the southern and western coasts—a new classification may soon be needed for assessing the probability of a white Christmas.
Future projections paint a stark picture: only one in three or even one in four Christmases might be snowy. The likelihood of “black” (snowless) Christmases is rapidly increasing, especially along the coasts, as both the Baltic Sea and December temperatures continue to warm significantly.
In conclusion, if you’re dreaming of a snowy Christmas, head to Lapland!
Source: Foreca
