Weather by month for Helsinki, the best months to go and how Finland's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jun
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 19°C · 10 rain days
May, Jul, Aug
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 14°C to 21°C · 9–13 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs -1°C to 9°C · 10–15 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine, sea temperature and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C / -6°C | 14 days (68 mm) | 1.4 h/day | 0°C | 0.7/10 |
| February | -1°C / -5°C | 12 days (63 mm) | 3.6 h/day | 0°C | 1.7/10 |
| March | 2°C / -4°C | 11 days (45 mm) | 6.6 h/day | 1°C | 2.6/10 |
| April | 7°C / 0°C | 10 days (45 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 4°C | 3.1/10 |
| May | 14°C / 6°C | 9 days (48 mm) | 13.0 h/day | 10°C | 6.0/10 |
| Best month: June | 19°C / 11°C | 10 days (57 mm) | 14.7 h/day | 16°C | 7.7/10 |
| July | 21°C / 14°C | 13 days (79 mm) | 13.3 h/day | 19°C | 7.1/10 |
| August | 20°C / 14°C | 13 days (83 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 20°C | 7.1/10 |
| September | 15°C / 10°C | 11 days (70 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 17°C | 5.6/10 |
| October | 9°C / 5°C | 13 days (80 mm) | 4.8 h/day | 11°C | 1.8/10 |
| November | 4°C / 1°C | 15 days (78 mm) | 2.0 h/day | 6°C | 0.7/10 |
| December | 1°C / -2°C | 14 days (67 mm) | 1.3 h/day | 2°C | 0.5/10 |
Figures for Helsinki; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
-1°C / -6°C · 14 rain days · 1.4 h sun · sea 0°C
Days stay cold, with highs around -1°C and lows near -6°C. Rain or snow falls on about 14 days, and sunshine is scarce at just 1.4 hours a day. The score of 0.7 marks this as tough weather month, though it's prime time for snow and polar night scenery. New Year's Day and Epiphany fall here.
-1°C / -5°C · 12 rain days · 3.6 h sun · sea 0°C
Still firmly winter, with highs of -0.5°C and lows of -5.3°C. Rain days drop to 11.6 and sunshine rises slightly to 3.6 hours. The score stays low at 1.7, reflecting the cold, but longer daylight makes it a solid month for snow activities.
2°C / -4°C · 11 rain days · 6.6 h sun · sea 1°C
Temperatures climb above freezing by day, reaching 1.9°C, though nights still dip to -3.7°C. Rain days fall to 10.7 and sun hours double to 6.6. The score of 2.6 shows this is still a cold, low-light month overall.
7°C / 0°C · 10 rain days · 9.9 h sun · sea 4°C
Spring arrives slowly: highs reach 7.1°C and lows hover just above freezing at 0.2°C. Rain days ease to 10.2 and sunshine jumps to 9.9 hours. The score of 3.1 keeps this as a transition month. Easter weekend, including Good Friday and Easter Monday, falls in April.
14°C / 6°C · 9 rain days · 13.0 h sun · sea 10°C
Warmer days bring highs of 13.7°C and lows of 5.8°C, with rain on fewer days, 8.7 on average. Sun hours reach 13 a day, and the score jumps to 6.0, marked 'good'. May Day on the 1st and Ascension Day later in the month add holiday interest.
19°C / 11°C · 10 rain days · 14.7 h sun · sea 16°C
This is the top-scoring month at 7.7, rated 'best'. Highs reach 18.7°C, lows 11.4°C, with sun hours peaking at 14.7 a day. Rain falls on about 10 days. Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day, plus Pentecost, bring some of Finland's biggest celebrations.
21°C / 14°C · 13 rain days · 13.3 h sun · sea 19°C
The warmest month, with highs of 20.5°C and lows of 13.9°C. Rain days rise to 13.1 and rainfall totals 79mm, the heaviest of the year alongside August. Sun hours stay high at 13.3. The score of 7.1 keeps it rated 'good' despite the wetter spells.
20°C / 14°C · 13 rain days · 11.2 h sun · sea 20°C
Still warm, with highs of 19.9°C and lows of 13.6°C. Rain days reach 12.7 with 83mm of rainfall, the wettest month. Sun hours ease to 11.2. The score holds at 7.1, 'good', as sea temperatures peak at 19.5°C for swimming.
15°C / 10°C · 11 rain days · 8.2 h sun · sea 17°C
Autumn sets in: highs drop to 15.4°C, lows to 10.1°C. Rain days ease slightly to 10.6, though rainfall stays notable at 70mm. Sun hours fall to 8.2. The score of 5.6 gives an 'ok' rating as days shorten.
9°C / 5°C · 13 rain days · 4.8 h sun · sea 11°C
Colder and wetter, with highs of 9.1°C and lows of 4.5°C. Rain days climb to 12.9 with 80mm of rain, and sun hours drop sharply to 4.8. The score falls to 1.8, 'avoid', reflecting the grey, damp conditions. All Saints' Day falls on the 31st.
4°C / 1°C · 15 rain days · 2.0 h sun · sea 6°C
Highs reach just 4.4°C, lows hover near freezing at 1°C. Rain or snow falls on 14.5 days, and sunshine is minimal at 2 hours a day. The score drops to 0.7, tough weather driven by short days and persistent damp cold.
1°C / -2°C · 14 rain days · 1.3 h sun · sea 2°C
The darkest month, with just 1.3 hours of sun a day. Highs reach 1.2°C, lows -2.4°C, and rain or snow falls on 14.3 days. The score of 0.5 is the year's lowest, though this is peak season for Christmas markets, Independence Day on the 6th, and Christmas and St. Stephen's Day holidays.
Regional differences
Average daytime high each month, coloured by that city's own month score.
| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki | -1°C | -1°C | 2°C | 7°C | 14°C | 19°C | 21°C | 20°C | 15°C | 9°C | 4°C | 1°C |
| Tampere | -3°C | -2°C | 2°C | 8°C | 15°C | 20°C | 21°C | 20°C | 15°C | 8°C | 3°C | 0°C |
| Turku | -1°C | 0°C | 3°C | 9°C | 16°C | 20°C | 21°C | 21°C | 16°C | 9°C | 5°C | 1°C |
| Rovaniemi | -7°C | -6°C | -2°C | 4°C | 11°C | 17°C | 20°C | 18°C | 12°C | 4°C | -1°C | -4°C |
| Kuusamo | -8°C | -6°C | -2°C | 3°C | 10°C | 16°C | 19°C | 17°C | 11°C | 3°C | -2°C | -5°C |
Best Good OK Tough weather
By trip type
City sightseeing
June is the best month for city trips. In Helsinki, highs average 18.7°C and there are 14.7 hours of sun a day. Rain falls on about 9.9 days, fewer than in July or August.
Beach
July and August are the only real beach months. The sea near Helsinki reaches 18.6°C in July and 19.5°C in August, so swimming still feels cool. Expect showers, with about 13 rain days in each month.
Hiking & nature
May and June suit hiking best. May has the fewest rain days of the year (8.7) and highs of 13.7°C. June is warmer at 18.7°C, with 14.7 hours of sun for long days on the trail.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan), Epiphany (6 Jan)
Public holidays: Good Friday (3 Apr), Easter Sunday (5 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr)
Public holidays: May Day (1 May), Ascension Day (14 May), Pentecost (24 May)
Public holidays: Midsummer Eve (19 Jun), Midsummer Day (20 Jun)
Public holidays: All Saints' Day (31 Oct)
Public holidays: Independence Day (6 Dec), Christmas Eve (24 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec), St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
June is the best month, based on Helsinki weather data for 2015–2024. It has the year's highest score (7.7) and the most sun, with 14.7 sun hours. Highs reach 18.7°C and lows 11.4°C. There are only 9.9 rain days, fewer than in July or August.
Yes, August is a good month, with a score of 7.1. Days are warm, with highs of 19.9°C, and the sea is at its warmest at 19.5°C, so it suits swimming. The downside is rain: August is the wettest month, with 83 mm over 12.7 rain days.
September is an OK month, with a score of 5.6. It is still mild, with highs of 15.4°C, and the sea stays fairly warm at 17.1°C. But sun drops to 8.2 hours and rain rises to 70 mm, so pack layers and a rain jacket.
For weather, December is a month to avoid. It has the lowest score of the year (0.5). Helsinki gets just 1.3 sun hours, highs of 1.2°C and lows of -2.4°C. There are 14.3 rain days, so expect grey, wet days. January and November are almost as poor, both scoring 0.7.
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