Finland introduces new weather radar at Kaunispää summit in Saariselkä

Finland’s Meteorological Institute is enhancing its weather observation capabilities by introducing a new weather radar at the summit of Kaunispää in Saariselkä. This radar will detect precipitation areas, their movements, and the intensity of rainfall, as stated by radar expert Mikko Kurri. The data obtained from the radar will help to determine whether certain locations are experiencing rain, sleet, or hail.

The radar will be utilized not only by the Meteorological Institute but also by various users, including the Roads Authority, particularly during winter when making decisions about snow plowing based on real-time precipitation data.

The new radar expands the range of precipitation measurements, allowing detection of weaker rainfall compared to previous radars. It is capable of providing early warnings for hazardous weather events, a significant improvement over the single existing radar in Luosto, which has been limited in its coverage. It offers crucial data especially during winter when snow often originates from low-altitude clouds.

The radar data is primarily used for short-term weather forecasts, under six hours, while long-term forecasts are calculated using a supercomputer. In Europe, there are approximately 200 similar radars, and Nordic countries share a long tradition of data exchange, highlighting the importance of collaboration in monitoring weather phenomena that do not recognize borders. The new radar is expected to be operational by the end of October, with fine-tuning to ensure data quality continuing for several weeks thereafter. Finland boasts around 400 various observation stations throughout the country.