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Thunderstorms keep rescue services busy

Severe thunderstorms swept across Central Finland, Pirkanmaa and Häme Sunday afternoon and early evening sparking dozens of small forest and grass fires, downing trees and setting off automatic alarm systems.

Salama ja ukkospilviä
Image: Pekka Parviainen / Yle

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the storms have been accompanied by gusts of high wind and hail in some areas.

The warm air that has dominated the weather over the past week is colliding with a mass of cold air, producing powerful and slow-moving storm cells.

Lightning strikes have started numerous small fires and the storms disrupted army exercises. Two soldiers were struck by lightning. Their injuries are not life-threatening, but they were hospitalized for further tests.

So far this summer the most severe day of storms was on June 1st when just over 15,000 lightning strikes were recorded.

Statistically, lightning is the most deadly weather phenomenon in Finland, accounting for an average of one fatality every second year.

Sources: YLE