Many parts of western Finland basked in uncharacteristically warm weather on Sunday, in some cases exceeding what locals call the "heat barrier" – or 25 degrees Celsius.
The day’s highest temperature was recorded in Ylivieska in northern Ostrobothnia on Finland’s west coast, where the mercury rose to 26.7 degrees at the local airport. The reading makes it the highest on record for the year so far.
According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute FMI, Ylivieska sees such high temperatures on average just once in 30 years.
Altogether afternoon highs passed 25 degrees Celsius in 11 locations in southwest Finland, with the mercury falling just short of the mark in many other places.
Yle meteorologist Toni Hellinen speculated that temperatures could continue to soar on Sunday evening.
On Sunday FMI had issued warnings for brush fires in northern Finland and for forest fires in the south and southwest.