Thousands of tourists have found themselves stranded in Finland's Lapland as a severe cold spell has caused flight cancellations from all major airports in the area. Kittila Airport, a popular departure point for vacationers heading to ski resorts and to see the Northern Lights, faced grounded flights on Sunday as temperatures plummeted below -35C.
Forecasts indicate that conditions are unlikely to improve on Monday, with temperatures expected to hit lows of -39C, leading to further flight cancellations. The extreme cold has created challenges for de-icing aircraft and maintaining essential refueling equipment.
According to public broadcaster Yle, airport operator Finavia has reported that moisture in the air has exacerbated icy conditions, creating hazardous travel situations both in the air and on the ground.
This unexpected freeze is not typical for Finnish Lapland, which generally experiences winter averages around -14C. Although brief dips below -30C are common, sustained temperatures as low as those currently being recorded are rare.
Kittila Airport primarily caters to those seeking winter sports or the aurora borealis. In contrast, Rovaniemi Airport, located further south, is known as the gateway to Santa Claus Village, adding to the influx of tourists during this festive season.
The challenging weather conditions have also resulted in dangerous driving situations, leading to accidents including a bus full of passengers that slid into a ditch, though fortunately no serious injuries were reported.
This severe cold snap in Lapland coincides with winter storms affecting other parts of northern Europe, resulting in widespread disruptions in travel across the continent.
