The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a three-level avalanche warning for most of Lapland on Thursday, meaning the risk of an avalanche is considerable.
Avalanches are still possible in the coming days, and human-caused avalanches are even likely. A significant, level three avalanche warning has been issued for most of Lapland on Thursday.
In northern and eastern Finland, the amount of snow is currently the usual for the time of year, i.e. there is plenty of snow.
The end of March and the beginning of April are generally avalanche risk times in Lapland.
On Wednesday, an avalanche was reported in Urho Kekkonen National Park, and for a moment it was feared that several people were caught in the avalanche, but they were contacted.
A level four avalanche warning is a rarity
In avalanche risk hazard classifications, a common metric is used in Europe.
– The fact that level four, i.e. a high avalanche risk warning, would be issued in Finland is very rare. In six years, I can remember one time when Kilpisjärvi was given a big warning, but otherwise I don’t even remember, says Paajanen.
– You can count on the fingers of one hand that a level four avalanche warning would have been issued here in Pyhä. We study the situation in the terrain every day, we follow the weather and of course also the forecasts and observations of the snow situation given by others.
The people of the Pyhä snow safety center move a lot in the terrain, making observations and their own research about the snow situation and its structure.
Väkeväinen says that this winter season has been exceptionally quiet in Pyhä in terms of avalanches. Luosto has had a couple of times larger avalanches.
– We are looking forward to what this spring will be like. You can’t really give long-term forecasts, so you have to actively monitor the situation and then update the warnings accordingly.
Väkeväinen adds that free skiers in particular should train and read avalanche forecasts.