During the past week, we have been treated to great weather! (Yes, I’m saying this without irony!) I’m pleased to report that it’s been sunny here in Helsinki (all day long, not just 10 minutes in the morning) and, amazingly, lacking the usual cooling factor of the wind.
The temperatures have been up to 23°C-25°C and around here, that qualifies as Super Summer weather. Spring came and went in one week. We skipped right over it.
It hasn’t been this pleasant in several years actually, we’ve had many cold summers in a row. And May is usually a cool month.
No one knows how long this will last so you can believe people sure have been taking advantage of it! A large German supermarket chain has an ad that says “Live like it’s the last day of summer”, which must be tailored for the Nordic market. (I can’t imagine seeing that ad in Italy or Spain!)
Well, this week the whole town has been living like this spell of good fortune could end any minute. Sunbathers everywhere. Bikes and summer clothes. Bikinis in little green patches in the center of town? Yes, why not, who cares.
I took some photos on my iPhone 10 days ago from a picturesque café called Sinisen Huvilan kahvila, “The Blue Villa’s Café”. It is centrally located (at Töölönlahti), and you can see the Opera as well as the Finlandia Hall on the opposite shore.
If you compare them to these pictures from yesterday and today, you can see that the trees are already much greener!
I’m still getting used to how to enjoy summer with two babies who need to stay out of direct sunlight, as well as how to dress them. A week ago they were still in full winter gear, and suddenly they are in summer gear, arms and legs exposed!
It’s much easier now to go places with them though, without the hassle of dressing multiple layers, taking them off, and dressing them again. What a relief, really!
I even caught myself thinking Oh yes, I remember now how I used to be. This feels familiar. This feels like me. The long-lost scent of suntan lotion quickly slapped onto my face brought back happy memories, unexpectedly. The scent lingered all day. I almost didn’t want to wash it off.
Sunlight has also allowed me to reduce my daily coffee count to 3 espressos (instead of 4-5!) but I’m still too sleep-deprived to write a proper blog post. Still, I was itching to write something. Please excuse me if I’m not making much sense!
Weather gods, if you’re reading my blog (as you should be), would you please let us have the Sun a bit longer? I promise you we’ll return her in great shape, good as new!
57 replies on “Weather Report”
The same weather condition here 😁 It shouldn’t come as a surprise though, we’re so close. It jumped from snow to summer sunshine in a miraculous way. You smell barbecue everywhere. People hope the sun will last long, at least until Thursday which is the National Day in Norway. Much nicer to march in sun than rain, no doubt about it 😁🌟☀️
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No doubt, yes! I wonder if the sun will last until June 9th, which is the Samba Carnival here, they usually get freezing cold rain for their parade 🤣 Isn’t it nice to have summer in May? Let’s enjoy it! ❤️Thanks Isabelle for stopping by!
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Haha😆 You’re not greedy at all! I wish it will last until 24 June, which is St. Hans Eve (Midsummer Day) in Norway. Outdoor celebration is a must for many people. Much more fun when it’s dry and warm throughout the night ☘️🍃🌝
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Yes, it’s Midsummer here too – the last few years we’ve seen it all on Midsummer’s Eve: sleet, hail, you name it (everything but sunshine)… so yes, I definitely share your wish! And I don’t dare to be any greedier than that! 😉
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So happy for you to be SUNSTRUCK!!!
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Hahah! Yes, I am – we are..! 😁It really lifts the mood!
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“Here comes the sun”…
🙂
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Yep! And: “I’m walking on sunshine…and don’t it feel good!”
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It does. I remember in France when the sun finally really came out after months of drab rain. A sense of relief.
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What a great place to enjoy a limonadi. 🙂 I think the weather is acting globally this year. Also here in the Netherlands we have summer. Half may! When in city centre everybody is acting like it is totally normal to be in shorts and mini skirts. The only thing different with Helsinki is perhaps the abundancy of leaves in trees and bushes. Over here floral life is acting like it’s july or so, and the wonderous thing is that it came in only 2 weeks, from bare naked branches to lush greenery. I spoke to one of the weather Gods today and she assured me the sun will be ours some more. (I had to buy her an ice cream, but hey, that’s a small price for more solar pleasure. 🙂 )
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Hahah, thanks for bribing the weather gods for all of us 😊 Ice cream can do wonders! And yes, it’s a pretty spot for a limonadi – maybe you can go there the next time you visit Helsinki! 😉
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I’ve been missing a long post from you! I’m so glad you are having a bit of sun and warmth. I wish you extra hours of sleep, and again more and more sunny days to come! Et plein de fleurs parfumées, d’apéros au soleil, de pauses “bronzette”…
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Thanks! My pale legs wish for bronzing moments, but let’s see! The little boys I hang out with aren’t used to this weird phenomenon called sunlight just yet 😉 Maybe next year! Though next year I’ll be at work when it’s sunny… hmm. I guess it really is now or never! Are you having your week off now?
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I am at the end of my week off… This morning is market morning in Roscoff with hubby (we really go for the “coffe+croissant en terrasse” but we buy veg too!!) , then afternoon with my daughter (as you know, no school on Wednesday afternoon in France). Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the gym for a bit of exercise then I’ll be left with my afternoon… Friday morning 9am, I’m back at the port!
I’ll try to do a bit of leg bronzing for you during the week then transfer you the bronzing by photo… That might work!?
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Sounds like a plan!! 😎
Do you have a gym for the crew on the ferry?
I’m waiting for the little cuties to finish their nap, then we’re going out for a walk!
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A tiny space yes. But I don’t go on board. I prefer going outside on the upper decks for fresh air. You tend to forget going outside…
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True! Better take advantage of the opportunity for some fresh air at sea!
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Great pics!!It is absolutely the same here in London 😀
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Oh really? I’m happy for you guys! It was such a long winter, wasn’t it!!? 🤗
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Endless!!!!!
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Blue skies and warmth. Shocking. Enjoy the good times. I read that yesterday’s temperature in Seattle, near where I used to live, was 88°F (31°C), which is unheard of, the tradition there being that it remains cold and miserable until after July 4. The times they are a changing at least as far as climate is concerned.
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Yes, the weather has gone beserk and I think we all know why… I read somewhere that up here in the North, climate change will translate to a steady 10C all year round, without much seasonal change. And that’s the weather we’ve seen the past few years, more or less (at least here in Helsinki). I’m happy to see the sun, though it is strange!
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And you’ll survive to a 10° all year round???
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I guess I’ll have to 😝
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I’m so pleased to read that warm, sunny weather has arrived in Helsinki. We have also enjoyed some warm days here although it’s quite gloomy this morning. Enjoy it whilst it lasts!
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Thanks Marion! How wonderful it would be if it did last…! Who knows, maybe this summer we’ll actually get summer weather?!🌻 Happy to hear you have been basking in sun, too!
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Happy for you! I have been seeing the shock and relief posts over the temperatures in Finland from my friends who live there, on social media hehe. We’ve been having continuously great weather since last month or so. It is sometimes cloudy but it’s usually over 15 degrees even if it’s cloudy which means I have tucked away all my winter clothes and started wearing my dresses! I think Helsinki looks much better with the sun, especially with it being a coastal city.
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It does look better in the sun – everything does! And the wind is usually so chilly, being by the sea, like you said… let’s hope it lasts a bit! An nice run you’ve had over there! You must be loving it! 😊🌻 Thanks Pooja for chatting! Enjoy your sunny days!
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So the heatwave has reached Finland too!! Happy to read it!! I remember the Swedish spring… super long days, but rainy and cold until June or even July (actually, my first summer in Stockholm was grey and sad…)… But then, flowers covered everything and there was color everywhere!! I’d love to see Helsinki that way (I only went once during autumn! On a super sunny day, but also very cold!! hehehe).
Enjoy the sun while it lasts!!! Two rainy days in Switzerland and we’re already complaining… hahaha
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You guys already got used to the sun 😄 I hope it will come back! The past few summers have been so bad that this is already better than all of them together – which is a consolation if it suddenly ends! 😂 Thanks Mercedes for stopping by! Enjoy your evening!
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I know your joy! Those first full days of real summer after a long, cold winter are so wonderful! I’m sending a little extra Texan sun to you right now – hope it lasts a while!
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Thanks Lexi! I’ll gladly accept your Texan sun! 🤗 Blue skies are so much prettier than grey ones!
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The blue of the sky is so intense. Thank you for sharing your lovely impressions. Happy springtime!
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Thanks Tanja! You too!
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Haha, can you believe that yesterday when I went to bed I was thinking “I need to write a post called Weather report”? 😆😆 Same wonders, same ideas))
Our summer suddenly changed into the cold wind last night. Temp dropped some 10 degrees but it’s good for national day celebrations today. Cuz people wear all those woolen bunads, dresses.
I also had that feeling: of home. I even missed the heat of steppes where I was born. I used to hate it. But now I kinda miss it. When you walk on melting asphalt, sweating, I know it so well. It got up over +40 in my city, that would be too much for me. But oh, real summer is always good! (Hope Finns don’t complain 😉)
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I overheard a woman today, saying she’s happy for the lovely cool breeze that we had, in a matter or fact tone, as if no one could possibly like warm weather without a little cold mixed in 😁 The complaint department has opened its doors, I believe… this is how it starts! 🤣
Funny thing about your post idea! Though it’s no wonder really, we wrote many similar posts all throughout winter. Why I seem to blog mainly about the weather, I have no idea! I wonder about that sometimes! I guess it has a deep impact on me. Same for you I guess! 🤗 Sunshine is like electricity… when you have it, you don’t even notice, you pay no attention and take it for granted. But when you don’t have any… suddenly things change.
Happy to hear you had good weather (not too hot!) for May 17th! I’m still waiting for the verdict on the samba carnival… 😎
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I imagine Finns appreciating a bit of coldness, yes 😆 and also this country was not built for warm days so suddenly it gets hot inside and then the fans get sold out 😆
Yeah, we have been writing a lot about weather with you, true true. We looove talking about weather in these parts cuz it changes a lot. And it is like you say, some things become taken for granted. But not sunshine here, it is celebrated like nowhere. And also Norwegians become another nation on such days, smiling, happy))
Oh, today has been a great day, not hot, but warm and sunny and everyone has a great time (and I forgot my camera to the centre, so no new images now 😒).
Good luck for carnival weather!
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Sounds like a fun day! Even without pics 😂 old-school! Here, it hasn’t been hot yet. (Yet?)
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It was an amazingly fun and sunny day 🙂 I took pics of our after-party mess. I just had to have some :)))
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And also, I meant sunshine is taken for granted elsewhere. Not here 😄
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I know! Not here. Here it is worth gold!
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So happy for you! ❤ Indeed, spring has been stolen. It's either cold or hot. But it's so green this year! Raining a lot and no sign of the terrible drought we had last year. I know it will be too hot very soon. I wish your suntan aroma lingers. 🙂
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Thanks! Today there are some clouds and wind. It hasn’t been hot here yet, and it probably won’t get to much over 25C in Helsinki which is by the sea and always so windy… How nice that you are getting green now, maybe your nature needed the rain!
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The weather’s been awesome in many places and much-appreciated! Unfortunately, it didn’t last long in Paris 😉 Back to cooler temperatures and less sun, but like everyone around you, people here enjoyed those days like they were the last of the summer! Bathing suits out, tanning lotion and beach towels spread out on the grass in the park, picnics everywhere. It was fun! Can’t wait to do it again on a daily basis sooooooooon! 😉
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Oh yes, you get to go to the beach whenever you want, back at your other home 💕Still, summer in a city is different than summer somewhere beachy. Different things to enjoy
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When I’m there, it’s particularly easy, for sure! While in Paris, though, it is another matter altogether but I escaped to the beach last week 😉 and it was perfect! Let’s enjoy the cities, meanwhile!
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😃 Lovely happy sun filled post .. May it stay with you! I wouldn’t mind some of that sun either .. Love those tulips. And so good to see nature waking up!
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Thank you my friend! Nature waking up really is amazing to watch, each time! And seeing flowers… it brightens the mood straight away! 😊
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Big smiles to you lovely 😃
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So much blue!!!! Can we have some?
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Go ahead, there’s plenty for everyone! 😋
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Haha! Looks like we grabbed plenty for the Royal Wedding. Very generous of you!
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🤗 You’re welcome! We still have some here too!
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I’m happy to hear that it warmed up there for you. I hope that you are have many sunshine filled days. It is quite rainy here, but I’m looking forward to the upcoming dry out. 🙂
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We’ve had our share of rain all winter – I’m so happy it’s still sunny – a month now, pretty incredible!! Hope you get some sun, too! I’m a bit late on catching up with blogs but will visit yours soon! ❤️Have a fun day!
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Sun is so great! I didn’t get out much today and I can feel the bleh feelings!
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Sunshine changes everything! 😊
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