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
Helsinki's coldest month has highs of -1.2°C, lows of -5.9°C and about 14 wet days. You get only about 1.4 hours of sunshine a day, and the sea is close to 0°C. It scores 0.7 and the verdict is avoid. Short, dark and freezing days make this a poor month for most visitors.
-1°C / -5°C · 12 rain days · 3.6 h sun · sea 0°C
Still very cold, with highs of -0.5°C and lows of -5.3°C. Rain or snow falls on about 12 days, and sunshine rises to about 3.6 hours a day. It scores 1.7, so the verdict is avoid. The sea is at -0.2°C, and the days are still too dark and cold for most trips.
2°C / -4°C · 11 rain days · 6.6 h sun · sea 1°C
Highs climb to only 1.9°C, and nights still drop to -3.7°C. There are about 11 wet days, and sunshine reaches 6.6 hours a day. It scores 2.6, and the verdict is avoid. Days get lighter, but it is still winter in Helsinki, so most travellers should wait.
7°C / 0°C · 10 rain days · 9.9 h sun · sea 4°C
Highs reach 7.1°C, but lows sit near freezing at 0.2°C. Expect about 10 wet days and close to 10 hours of sunshine a day. It scores 3.1, and the verdict is avoid. It is too cold for comfortable sightseeing, and the sea is only 3.9°C.
14°C / 6°C · 9 rain days · 13.0 h sun · sea 10°C
This is a good month, with a score of 6. Highs reach 13.7°C, and May has the fewest wet days of the year at about 9. Sunshine averages 13 hours a day. Nights are still cool at 5.8°C, and the sea at 9.8°C is too cold for most swimmers.
19°C / 11°C · 10 rain days · 14.7 h sun · sea 16°C
This is the best month to visit, with the top score of 7.7. Highs are 18.7°C and lows are 11.4°C. You get the most sunshine of the year, about 14.7 hours a day, and rain falls on about 10 days. The sea warms to 16.1°C.
21°C / 14°C · 13 rain days · 13.3 h sun · sea 19°C
The warmest month has highs of 20.5°C and lows of 13.9°C. It is good, with a score of 7.1. Rain is more common than in June, with about 13 wet days and 79 mm. The sea reaches 18.6°C, which is warm enough for a swim.
20°C / 14°C · 13 rain days · 11.2 h sun · sea 20°C
Still good, with a score of 7.1. Highs are 19.9°C, and the sea is at its warmest at 19.5°C. August is also the wettest month, with 83 mm of rain over about 13 days. Pack a rain jacket, but it is a fine month for a summer trip.
15°C / 10°C · 11 rain days · 8.2 h sun · sea 17°C
An OK month, with a score of 5.6. Highs drop to 15.4°C and lows to 10.1°C. Rain falls on about 11 days, and sunshine falls to 8.2 hours a day. The sea stays mild at 17.1°C. It works if you accept cooler, shorter days.
9°C / 5°C · 13 rain days · 4.8 h sun · sea 11°C
Weather drops off fast, and the verdict is avoid, with a score of 1.8. Highs are 9.1°C, rain falls on about 13 days and totals 80 mm. Sunshine is only 4.8 hours a day. Wet, grey and dimming days make this a poor time to go.
4°C / 1°C · 15 rain days · 2.0 h sun · sea 6°C
One of the worst months to visit, with a score of 0.7 and an avoid verdict. It has the most wet days of the year, at about 14.5, and only 2 hours of sunshine a day. Highs are 4.4°C and lows are 1°C, so it is cold, dark and damp.
1°C / -2°C · 14 rain days · 1.3 h sun · sea 2°C
The lowest-scoring month at 0.5, so the verdict is avoid. Sunshine is the lowest of the year, at about 1.3 hours a day. Highs are 1.2°C, lows are -2.4°C, and rain or snow falls on about 14 days. Unless you have a strong reason, pick summer instead.
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.
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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