Lapland has finally seen its first snowfall of the coming winter, bringing excitement to both children and tourists visiting Santa Claus Village. Many hope the snow will stay, after an unusually long and warm autumn.
Following the third-warmest September on record — surpassed only by 2023 and 2024 — the wait for winter conditions stretched longer than usual.
Finland’s Meteorological Institute reported on 1 October that average temperatures were 1.9 degrees Celsius higher than they would have been without climate change.