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April 5, 2026 - Early Spring Thaw in Finland
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Record warm temperatures resulted in near-complete snow melt in Finland by the end of March 2026. This true-color image, acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on March 28, showed ice remaining on most of the many lakes in the region, but very little visible snow. Scant sea ice remained in the Gulf of Finland, in the southeast.
According to the Helsinki Times, “Finland recorded its warmerst march since measurements began, with new temperature records set across almost the entire country”. Average temperatures in March were about 3°C (37°F) in the southwest to about –2.5°C (27.5°F) in northern Lapland. The national average of 1.1°C (34°F) broke the previous record of 0.0°C (32°F) set in 2007. The highest temperature recorded was 12.6°C (54.7°F) in Heinola on March 22, the same article reported.
Warm temperatures also affected Arctic sea ice extent. According to an Image of the Day published by Copernicus on April 4, 2026, recent observations show a significant departure from historical averages for the annual maximum extent of Arctic sea ice, which usually occurs in March. Their data shows that between March 15-28, “the Arctic sea ice extent remained at its lowest levels ever recorded for this time of year, highlighting a significant reduction compared to the climatological average”.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/28/2026
Resolutions:
1km (100.6 KB), 500m (313.5 KB), 250m (712.5 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Record warm temperatures resulted in near-complete snow melt in Finland by the end of March 2026. This true-color image, acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on March 28, showed ice remaining on most of the many lakes in the region, but very little visible snow. Scant sea ice remained in the Gulf of Finland, in the southeast.
According to the Helsinki Times, “Finland recorded its warmerst march since measurements began, with new temperature records set across almost the entire country”. Average temperatures in March were about 3°C (37°F) in the southwest to about –2.5°C (27.5°F) in northern Lapland. The national average of 1.1°C (34°F) broke the previous record of 0.0°C (32°F) set in 2007. The highest temperature recorded was 12.6°C (54.7°F) in Heinola on March 22, the same article reported.
Warm temperatures also affected Arctic sea ice extent. According to an Image of the Day published by Copernicus on April 4, 2026, recent observations show a significant departure from historical averages for the annual maximum extent of Arctic sea ice, which usually occurs in March. Their data shows that between March 15-28, “the Arctic sea ice extent remained at its lowest levels ever recorded for this time of year, highlighting a significant reduction compared to the climatological average”.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 3/28/2026
Resolutions:
1km (100.6 KB), 500m (313.5 KB), 250m (712.5 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
