Finland’s little secret: No one actually likes winter sports
I used to say, “Why would anyone want to leave Finland in July? The weather is so perfect!” After yet another cold, wet summer, I say that no more…
July has been unseasonably wet in Finland this year. Northern Ostrobothnia and Kuusamo have been hit especially hard. [...]Meteorologists say July hasn’t been this cool since 1993, and hasn’t been this rainy since the years 2004 and 2007.
Let’s all put our patriotism and blind devotion on the shelf for one second and be honest with ourselves…Finnish weather is pretty much shit, all twelve months a year. We all just pretend it’s okay cause we’re stuck here, whether it’s because we’re born here, or have a serious boner for a Finnish girl.
The “summer” months are overcast and rainy, this year averaging around 15C (59F). April/May can have some deceivingly warm days, then comes a cold and wet June. September can have some nice days, but you can’t stop thinking about the six months of winter ahead - from October to March we have darkness and a consistent drizzly +2C every day.
During the six months of slush we partake in cold weather activities like skiing, skating, sledding, and drinking. I’m going to let you in on a little secret - No one actually likes winter sports, we just do them to pass the time and deter us from suicide. We’d all give up this shit to be outdoors in shorts on our bicycles with an ice cream in our hand.
It’s like asking an inmate what his hobbies are: the prisoner gleefully replies, “Gang rape”. Now he doesn’t actually like gang rape, if he were on the outside he’d prefer bike shorts and ice cream, but since his only other option is “Getting stabbed”, the gang rape becomes something of a hobby for himself, he might even take home a bronze medal in the activity.
But whatever…it’s still better than living in NEBRASKA!! LOL!!
Ah, complaining about the weather. How quaint.
Comment by someone — Sat, Jul 19th, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
Sure the weather could be a lot better, but I don’t think it’s that bad…
Comment by Hanzel Wegelstam — Sat, Jul 19th, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
I lived in Omaha Nebraska for 1 year,when I was in U.S.Air Force during vietnam war….IT SUCKED…winters were brutally cold…summer was brutaly hot,with stench from worlds largest cow stockyards…throw in unbelievable thunderstorms with major tornado threats,and possible Nuclear attack by cold war Russkies that could obliterate us all at Headquarters Strategic Air Command….what a life…It was happiest day of my life when I left to go back home to Massachusetts!
It is obvious the damage Global warming is doing to modern day Finland
climate…NOT!!…If you believe that,there is an iceberg I want to sell you,along with friendly,cuddly,and cute polar bear that wants to lick your face!…
Comment by infinndel the jenkki dogg — Sat, Jul 19th, 2008 @ 10:29 pm
Ah, complaining about the weather. How quaint.
LOL!! Yah yah, Finns can complain about the weather, but foreigners can go home!
Comment by Phil — Sat, Jul 19th, 2008 @ 10:33 pm
Anyone can complain about the weather, but its never any use.
But for a foreigner whose home is perhaps situated somewhere where the weather is more preferrable, going home is a viable option.
Secondly rain is not bad weather, rain is nice, summer rain often comes with thunder which is also very nice. Just quit being a dumbass and get a coat.
Comment by philtard — Sat, Jul 19th, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
Actually Helsinki weather is worse than only a few miles north. Thermal winter didn’t come to Helsinki at all this year (it was November weather all winter), but it did snow, for example, in the Hyvinkää/Riihimäki latitudes. I’ve moved to Helsinki from the north and noticed that Helsinki gets much more “zero degrees weather” with no snow but freezing rain.
Comment by sepisp — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 12:17 am
The Finnish weather is way way way better than the Icelandic, one to be honest
Comment by Kjarri — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 3:37 am
In the picture You seem to enjoy life somewhere in our beautiful countryside. But, no, red wine does not belong here. Only milk, beer or Koskenkorva is acceptable:)
On topic: Weather by finnish cost-line is terrible, it is even worse in Ireland, UK.
Comment by Buji — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 9:38 am
How can anyone seriously say that this weather does NOT stink.
Come on people… we have to go through six month of shitty weather (mostly rain now days) and darkness and now this.
I can deal with a cold winter and darkness as long as I have at least a summer of sunny long days
Comment by chic sheik — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder! Well, it does not sound as good in English. But it’s true.
Comment by Jonas G — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
“Finnish weather is pretty much shit, all twelve months a year.”
Fucking amen, brother.
Comment by aet75 — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Just drink more alcohol…….
Funny, I liked winters there.
Comment by Fred Fry — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
vitun hauskaa ja mielenkiintoista
mutta missä on se bostonilainen mielisairas ämmä
or the estonian clown, kristian, I think was his name?
I mean, I haven’t been wrting to this ugly blog for months and what’s teh result? The mentally ill evaporate!
Perhaps Punter too has found a medication that suits him?
See you in three weeks… or, come tothing of it, three decades (unless there are more crazy angloes needin a realitry check)
Comment by Tomi — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 8:03 pm
How to explain to your pals back in the states what on earth you are doing that country? Here we go: “Finnish weather is pretty much shit, all twelve months a year. We all just pretend it’s okay cause we’re stuck here, whether it’s because we’re born here, or have a serious boner for a Finnish girl.”
Pelottavaa on, että joku jenkkimedia luulee, että tähän idioottiin voi luottaa Suomea koskevissa asioissa. Tai että Nokia luottaa … Aika myydä Nokian osakkeet ;-)Joku aika sitten se väitti Suomi olisi kuin Puola, jos ei olisi Nokiaa! Onko sillä aivovaurio? (Not that I would have anything against the Poles, I just got back from Warsaw: very symphatetic people indeed.)
Kertokaa nyt joku Nokialle mitä tää hemmo häärää.
Ai niin, it rains seldom in Helsinki unlike Stockhole, Osloso, Amsterdam, London, Baltimore …
Grow up, asshole!
Comment by Please get me a green gard — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
“Pelottavaa on, että joku jenkkimedia luulee, että tähän idioottiin voi luottaa Suomea koskevissa asioissa.”
just joo, just listen how he makes fun of the Finns in his podcasts (if he hasn’t deleted them). A typical ignorant American.
Opettele kunnioittamaan vieraita kulttuureja tai mene kotiin jenkki, ettei tarvitse tulla, you’d know what if you weren’t a typical arroganttly ignorant amerikkalainen (”first I thought I’d study the language but because it turned out to be difficult i never did, I mean, what’s the point, nobody stays in this country anyways if he doesn’t have to because the weather is so much better in Baltimore, not to mention London or the other town I visited, hmmmmmm, what the fuck was its name …
Go home Yankee!
(Yes, the right way to think is: “Just another not-too-sharp foreigner not speaking English”
€
Comment by Baltimore — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
Yeh it sucks, but that OL New York one is worse. Brooklyn in the summer sucks, Brooklyn in the winter sucks. I like it here, same type of bullshit whether but 100 percent nice in context of nature. Ill take Finland over New York any day!
How ever I also grew up my later part of my life in California. Ill take Cali over Finland any day in this context.
Comment by Born there — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
I guess I’m bit perverse in liking the Finnish climate - the sub-arctic year is just so exhilaratingly manic-depressive: December darkness changes in six months into midnight sun and the nature bursts madly into life to mostly die again in a couple of months. Most climates are more pleasant and predictable, but there is a certain strange beaty in these crazy changes. (We are quite far up north - in Northern America Helsinki’s latitude goes through the Hudson Bay…)
Comment by mjr — Sun, Jul 20th, 2008 @ 10:42 pm
Bitching about the weather, huh ?
Yeah, it sucks. But still better than winter. And bitching about doesn’t help unless you’re russian. Didn’t they spray some iodine on rainclouds to disperse them? 
Comment by Keksi — Mon, Jul 21st, 2008 @ 9:06 am
I’ve visited Nebraska a few times and the weather is vastly changing, no matter the time of year…it’s actually quite fascinating…the temperature can drop in a matter of minutes,,,,the tornado season is fetching, and the heat for a Finn in the summertime is tremendous….
parts of it are lovely scenically…so what’s up with that comment?
Comment by Kai — Mon, Jul 21st, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
The “coastal weather” in Helsinki is sometimes a real bitch, but I agree with #10 - problem is sometimes you can’t predict. Nice spring/autumn days are the worst… morning -2, freezing in the shade/wind, in the sun its +10, so you sweat like anything… bus has full heating on, again the greenhouse effect…
Comment by Hank W. — Mon, Jul 21st, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
I think I’ve asked this before, but I’ll ask it again:
Phil, why don’t you relocate to someplace nicer, like California? I’m sure it’s not that difficult since you are working for Nokia.
If you have a girlfriend or wife here, just take her with you. The wages and purchasing power are so much better in California that you could easily live on your salary alone.
I would move immediately out of this country if I had the chance.
Comment by zip — Tue, Jul 22nd, 2008 @ 12:04 am
In Helsinki, and I have seen this over and over again, during the summer, often the mornings are bright and sunny. Gradually, by early afternoon, the clouds start to form, and then it becomes completely overcast or it rains. By about 5 pm or abit later, the skies clear and it is once again sunny.
So many times, I would get ready for the beach, but by 12 Noon, the weather looks marginal, and by 1 pm, I just give up the idea of spending a day on the beach. By 5 pm, when it is too late for the beach, it is again sunny and warm.
Does anyone know why this takes place so often?
Is it the mix of warm water of the Baltic Sea raising in the cool morning air? By mid afternoon, the water temperature and air temperature finally equalise, and the condensetion finally stops, and the clouds dissipate? If not, then what?
Any amateur metereologists out there?
Comment by Peter — Tue, Jul 22nd, 2008 @ 9:40 am
I just got back from three weeks in Finland, mostly in Espoo. It did not get above 22. Considering it was 33 to 35 degrees at home, I loved it (I do not like warm weather too much).
IMHO, Finland should advertise its weather in the US, for the summer. 16 to 22 hours of sunlight. 70 degree weather. Reasonably priced summer cottages (although renting a car is really, really expensive, as is beer). Great festivals (Savolinna and Pori).
What’s not to like?
If you are living in Finland and want some warm weather, there is a good alternative, go to Spain, Turkey, or Italy. And, given the great benefits working there, you can spend 4 to 6 weeks on vacation.
Comment by Allan — Thu, Jul 24th, 2008 @ 10:17 pm
although renting a car is really, really expensive, as is beer,
as is food, restaurants, taxis, any form of entertainment, hotels… Finland is a great vacation destination if you don’t expect to get much value for your money.
Comment by trav'ler — Fri, Jul 25th, 2008 @ 8:18 am
My girlfriend lives in Finland and we’re trying to get together in the same place. She’s previously lived in the UK where I am — but recently has begun to insist that she can’t leave Finland which is the “best country in the world.”
We have a miserable winter too, but there’s much more light and at least it’s short — our summers are long.
After reading your description of the weather, my fears are confirmed..
Comment by Alex — Sun, Jul 27th, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
“as is food, restaurants, taxis, any form of entertainment, hotels… Finland is a great vacation destination if you don’t expect to get much value for your money.”
Depends. Just came back from Scotland. How’d you like £200 a night for a hotel by the loch (well yes, it was that one)?
In comparison, the rate for a double room at Kämp is roughly the same and is “slightly” posher.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Mon, Jul 28th, 2008 @ 1:53 am
Alex:
“After reading your description of the weather, my fears are confirmed..”
Let me suggest checking some other sources as well before taking much that is written here at face value.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Mon, Jul 28th, 2008 @ 2:21 am
UGH! I totally agree with you. Gosh I miss the sun and feeling warm.
I feel tricked! Before I moved to Finland, my husband was always telling me about the wonderful summers in Finland. To me Finland = cold, but I gave it a shot. I moved to Finland in 2007 only to find the summer very short and cool/cold. Then after this summer I now understand why there is a high suicide rate. I think there has been maybe 1 week of “nice” weather. Maybe I need to recalibrate and understand that Finnish summer (or heck all seasons) = rainy and cold. I need to throw away all shorts, sun dresses and bathing suits and replace with a winter wardrobe to wear all year long ….and maybe I will start to adjust.
I never appreciated the sun until I moved to Finland, and now it is teaching me a lesson in appreciation.
Comment by ALC — Sun, Aug 3rd, 2008 @ 6:38 pm