February 2015 Review - Jyväskylä

After Finland saw mild and warm February weather in 2013 and 2014, 2015 followed suit. Almost the whole 2014/15 winter has passed by in consistently above average fashion and February was no different. The Finnish Meteorological Institute ranked February 2015 as the fifth warmest in Finland since at least 1961. While temperatures were above zero more than below, snow depths were quite close to the long term average as precipitation for the month was almost smack bang on the 1981-2010 figure.

The clear difference in February averages at Jyväskylä Airport since 2009 can be seen below.

February averages at Jyväskylä Airport for the period 2009-2015

The 0.5C average maximum was the highest in the years since 2009, continuing an upward trend seen since 2011. Only 2014 saw a lower average minimum.

FMI recorded an overall average of -2.1C for Jyväskylä (compared to my -2.4C). This is a long way above the -8.5C average. 1990 holds the record for the warmest February since at least 1961, and 2014 is second behind that. February 2015 slots in as the fifth warmest February out of the past 56.

It wasn't only Jyväskylä that saw above average temperatures. In fact, the whole country did. Some areas, especially around Oulu, Kemi and Iisalmi, saw a figure more than 7C higher than their respective 1981-2010 averages. The lowest differences in Finland, in Northern Lapland and the Åland Islands in the south west, were still between 4C and 4.5C higher than average.

Jyväskylä's warmest day, February 11, saw a remarkable figure of 7.8C recorded. This was the second highest February temperature ever seen at Jyväskylä Airport. It was also the earliest date in a year for such a temperature. Temperatures dropped quickly after the 11th though, and a few days later on the 15th, the lowest maximum of the month was seen. It was only as warm as -6.5C then, but this figure was the highest in the years since 2009. The past three Februaries have all seen a respective figure higher than -10C.

The extremes for minimums included a highest minimum of 1.3C on the 20th. This is only surpassed by 2014's 3.1C. All other years since 2009 saw figures below zero. The lowest temperature of the month was -21.7C. Somewhat surprisingly, this is lower than the coldest temperatures seen in both 2013 and 2014. It was still a fair way off the numbers from 2010, 2011 and 2012 though, which were lower than -28C.

The Naruska station in Salla saw the lowest recorded temperature throughout Finland for the month. It dropped to -34.1C on the 15th. The 15th was one of four days that saw temperatures below -30C in Finland. February 2011 saw 11 minimums below -30C in Jyväskylä alone. There were also three in 2012. February 10 saw the highest overall temperature of the month. It reached 9.6C in Kaarina then.

Daily minimums and maximums against rainfall at Jyväskylä Airport for February 2015

Precipitation across Finland for February varied quite a bit. It was quite dry in Lapland as well along the west coast, but the far north west, central east and south east topped 100% of the average. In Jyväskylä, precipitation was almost right on the average of 32mm. I recorded a total of 33.3mm at the Airport, while FMI recorded 31mm. This was above last year's figure of 25mm.

Precipitation fell mostly as snow, but there were hints of rain towards the end of the month. The 22nd day of the month saw 9.7mm recorded. The 24th was the next highest with 7.8mm. They were two of only three days that topped 5mm despite there being 19 days of precipitation. A streak of 13 precipitation days carried over from late January until February 4. Otherwise the longest streak was nine, from the 17th to 25th. There were two three day periods of dry weather; February 10 to 12 and 26 to 28.

Snow levels were above average at the start of the month, but dipped below halfway through as temperatures climbed well above zero. The depth at February 15 sat at 37cm, 5cm below the long term average, but snow was still well above 2014's figure of 12cm though.