From Watts Up With That?

Essay by  Eric Worrall

Who will save the Fins from an unexpected outbreak of beach weather?

‘No country is safe’: deadly Nordic heatwave supercharged by climate crisis, scientists say

Historically cool nations saw hospitals overheating and surge in drownings, wildfires and toxic algal blooms

Damian Carrington Environment editorThu 14 Aug 2025 15.00 AEST

The prolonged Nordic heatwave in July was supercharged by the climate crisis and shows “no country is safe from climate change”, scientists say.

Norway, Sweden and Finland have historically cool climates but were hit by soaring temperatures, including a record run of 22 days above 30C (86F) in Finland. Sweden endured 10 straight days of “tropical nights”, when temperatures did not fall below 20C (68F).

Global heating, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, made the heatwave at least 10 times more likely and 2C hotter, the scientists said. Some of the weather data and climate models used in their analysis indicated the heatwave would have been impossible without human-caused climate breakdown.

The heat had widespread effects, with hospitals overheating and overcrowding and some forced to cancel planned surgery. At least 60 peopledrowned as outdoor swimming increased, while toxic algal blooms flourished in seas and lakes.

…Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/14/nordic-heatwave-climate-crisis-sweden-norway-finland

Unfortunately for the climate narrative this has happened before, like pretty much every year somewhere gets this hot. From the Finnish Meteorological Institute;

Kemi-Tornion la	30,8	14.7.1961
Kruunupyyn	26,0	20.6.1962
Utti	32,8	2.8.1963
Kruunupyy	31,0	15.6.1964
Utti	29,0	21.7.1965
Varkaus Käpykangas	32,0	20.6.1966
Utti	31,2	3.8.1967
Lahti Laune	30,4	19.6.1968
Naantali	31,5	1.8.1969
Kemi-Tornion la	32,9	20.7.1970
Hattula Leteensuo	29,3	6.7.1971
Outokumpu	33,6	8.7.1972
Anjalankoski Anjala	32,5	6.7.1973
Utsjoki Kevo	32,8	18.6.1974
Ruotsinpyhtää Keitala	32,0	8.8.1975
Muhos kk Laitasaari	27,0	14.8.1976
Kankaanpää Niinisalo	32,5	15.6.1977
Kuopio Inkilänmäki	29,6	1.8.1978
Tuusula Hyrylä	30,5	8.6.1979
Lapinjärvi Ingermanninkylä	31,5	31.7.1980
Kotka Sunila	29,6	10.7.1981
Ylistaro Pelma	30,2	16.7.1982
Kotka Sunila	32,3	10.7.1983
Utti	29,1	17.5.1984
Lappeenranta	30,4	10.8.1985
Lapinjärvi Ingermanninkylä	31,5	27.6.1986
Utsjoki Kevo	30,0	20.7.1987
Utsjoki Kevo	32,9	20.7.1988
Lapinjärvi Ingermanninkylä	31,1	9.7.1989
Utsjoki Kevo	29,2	25.6.1990
Lapinjärvi Ingermanninkylä	30,0	31.7.1991
Vihti Maasoja	32,2	11.8.1992
Lapinjärvi Ingermanninkylä	30,0	20.5.1993
Jyväskylä	33,3	28.7.1994
Ylämaa Ylijärvi	31,2	15.6.1995
Utti	28,2	21.8.1996
Kauhava lentokenttä	31,5	1.7.1997
Joensuu	32,0	16.6.1998
Joensuu, Vieremä Kaarakkala	32,5	16.7.1999
Inari Sevettijärvi	32,4	19.7.2000
Savonlinna Ruunavuori	31,9	18.7.2001
Pori	30,0	13.8.2002
Mietoinen Saari	33,3	15.7.2003
Inari Sevettijärvi	29,8	3.7.2004
Inari Sevettijärvi	30,8	9.7.2005
Lammi Evo	32,1	8.7.2006
Parikkala Koitsanlahti	30,7	14.8.2007
Salo Kiikalan lentokenttä	29,7	6.6.2008
Jämsä Halli Lentoasemantie	29,6	28.6.2009
Liperi Joensuu lentoasema	37,2	29.7.2010
Ylitornio Meltosjärvi	32,8	10.6.2011
Lieksa Lampela	31,0	30.7.2012
Liperi Tuiskavanluoto	32,4	26.6.2013
Pori Rautatieasema	32,8	4.8.2014
Kouvola Utti Lentoportintie	31,4	3.7.2015
Utsjoki Kevo	29,1	23.7.2016
Utsjoki Kevo	27,6	28.7.2017
Vaasa Klemettilä	33,7	18.7.2018
Porvoo Emäsalo	33,7	28.7.2019
Kankaanpää Niinisalo lentokenttä	33,5	25.6.2020
Heinola Asemantaus	34,0	15.7.2021
Pori lentoasema	32,9	28.6.2022
Rauma Pyynpää	33,6	7.8.2023
Kuopio Savilahti Heinola Asemantaus	31,4	28.6.2024

Where I live in subtropical Queensland, we call temperatures above 86F “Summer”. But I can see such temperatures might be a bit of a shock to people who are used to wearing sweaters and overcoats all year round.

Here’s some Aussie advice for surviving Nordic Heatwaves:

1. Staying hydrated does not mean doubling down on your usual high alcohol winter warmer beer.
2. Peel off some layers. You won’t die from hypothermia if you only wear one layer when the outdoor temperature is above 90F.
3. Cook the reindeer outside in a fire pit. That way the house won’t get too hot.
4. It’s OK to let the kitchen, living room and bedroom fires go out. There will be plenty of time to light the fires again when temperatures drop.
5. Swimming is a skill which requires a little practice to master. Learning to swim is best attempted when sober.

Who knows, if this climate crisis continues, it might even be worth Fins installing a few backyard swimming pools.