The sea near Helsinki appeared to be sheathed in a constantly shifting white veil that resembled steam rising up from the surface against the backdrop of a golden sun.
The video recorded at Helsinki’s market square shows the impact that recent frigid temperatures have had on surface waters.
The phenomenon is known among meteorologists as sea smoke or frost smoke, and according to Yle meteorologist Elina Lopperi it requires temperatures of 10 degrees below freezing or lower.
"The smoke may appear over frozen lakes but it is typical of sea ice where there is a lot of open water," Lopperi explained.
Sea smoke forms when light winds of very cool air mix with a shallow layer of moist warm air immediately above a body of warmer water. The warmer air then forms a condensate similar to steam over a hot drink.
When the smoke wafts high enough into the air, it thickens and forms a kind of cloud, which then generates precipitation as snow that can sometimes fall on land.
"These kinds of snow flurries coming from sea smoke can currently be seen on the Ostrobothnian coast," Lopperi added.