Weather in Lappeenranta

Planning your day in Lappeenranta? Check out the very latest weather updates, as well as forecasts and visual charts right here.

The climate in Lappeenranta, located in Finland, can be characterised as temperate continental. It is typical for the region to experience significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Winters here are quite cold, with average temperatures dropping significantly below freezing, while summer brings pleasant warmth but without exhausting heat. The city experiences four clearly defined seasons.

Winter in Lappeenranta (December-March) is cold, with average temperatures in January and February hovering around -5°C, with minimum values reaching -7°C. Spring (April-May) brings gradual warming; in April, the average temperature rises above freezing, and in May, it reaches a comfortable +10°C. Summer (June-August) is the warmest time of the year, with average temperatures around +16-18°C; July is the warmest month with maximum temperatures reaching +21°C. Autumn (September-November) is characterised by a gradual decrease in temperature, preparing the city for winter. Precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, with the number of days with precipitation ranging from 9 to 16 per month, indicating frequent but generally not excessively heavy precipitation.

The climate in Lappeenranta is characterised by significant seasonal temperature variations, typical for this region of Finland. The annual range of average temperatures is quite wide: from frosty values in winter to moderately warm weather in summer. The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature holds at -5.2°C and -5.3°C respectively, and average minimum temperatures drop to -7.1°C in January and -7.4°C in February. Conversely, the warmest month of the year is considered to be July, with an average temperature of +18.2°C and average maximums reaching +21.3°C.

The winter period in Lappeenranta is frosty and long. From December to March, average temperatures are consistently below freezing. In January and February, the thermometer often reads from -3°C to -7°C, creating a true winter atmosphere. The summer months, especially June, July, and August, bring pleasant warmth. The average temperature in June is +16.4°C, rising to +18.2°C in July, and holding at +17.1°C in August. Daytime highs in July can reach +21.3°C, making this month ideal for outdoor activities. Nights in summer remain fresh, with average minimum temperatures around +12°C - +15°C.

The transitional seasons – spring and autumn – demonstrate a gradual change in temperatures. In April, the average temperature crosses the zero mark, rising to +2.5°C, and May already delights with an average temperature of +10.0°C. In autumn, the reverse process occurs: in September, the average temperature is +12.2°C, dropping to +6.0°C in October, while November brings a cooling down to +1.2°C. Fluctuations between day and night temperatures are most noticeable in late spring and early summer. For example, in May, the difference between the average maximum (+13.9°C) and average minimum (+6.1°C) temperature is about 7.8°C, and in June this difference is also substantial (from +12.8°C to +20.1°C). In winter and mid-autumn, diurnal temperature fluctuations are less pronounced.

In Lappeenranta, precipitation is observed throughout the year, although its intensity and nature change depending on the season. There is no distinctly pronounced dry season or period of torrential rains here, but one can identify months with more frequent precipitation and slight variations in its volume.

The winter period, from December to March, is characterised primarily by snowfalls, as average air temperatures drop below freezing. Although the total amount of precipitation in these months is relatively small (averaging 2 mm per month), it snows quite often. For instance, in January and December, there are about 16 days with precipitation, which contributes to the formation and maintenance of snow cover. March also brings snow, although the number of days with precipitation decreases slightly to 12.

With the arrival of warmth, from May to October, precipitation falls in the form of rain. The highest amount of precipitation, at 3 mm per month, is recorded in July, August, and October. These same months are also distinguished by a high frequency of rainy days: in July and October, there are on average 16 such days, and in August – 15. June and September are also rainy, with 2 mm of precipitation and 12-13 rainy days respectively. This indicates that summer and autumn rains can be frequent, but judging by the total volume, not always heavy.

The driest month in Lappeenranta is considered to be April. During this period, the least amount of precipitation falls – only about 1 mm, and the lowest number of days with precipitation is noted, averaging 9. This makes April the month with the highest probability of clear weather compared to other times of the year.

When planning a trip to Lappeenranta, it is important to consider the changeable Finnish weather and select your wardrobe correctly. In winter (from December to March), it is quite frosty here, with average temperatures ranging from -2.7°C to -5.3°C, and night frosts can be even more severe. Therefore, be sure to take very warm clothing with you: thermal underwear, wool or fleece sweaters, insulated waterproof and windproof jackets and trousers, as well as a warm hat, scarf, and gloves (mittens are better). Do not forget comfortable, warm, and non-slip waterproof shoes, as although there isn't a huge volume of snow, the number of days with precipitation is significant.

In summer (from June to August), the weather in Lappeenranta becomes significantly warmer, with average temperatures from 16.4°C to 18.2°C, and during the day the air can warm up to +21°C. For this time of year, light trousers, t-shirts, and shorts are suitable. However, even in summer, evenings can be cool, so a light sweater or jacket would not be amiss. Considering that in the summer months there are also between 12 and 16 days with precipitation, it is worth bringing a light waterproof jacket or an umbrella. In the shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October), the weather is very variable: from cool to moderately warm. During this period, the principle of layering works best: a t-shirt, a fleece jacket, and a windbreaker or demi-season jacket will allow you to feel comfortable in any weather.

Regardless of the season, for walking around Lappeenranta you will need comfortable shoes, as the city invites exploration on foot. Sunscreen and sunglasses may come in handy on clear summer days. A small backpack will be useful for day excursions to carry a bottle of water, a snack, an umbrella, or an extra layer of clothing. Remember that the number of days with precipitation is quite high throughout the year, so a compact umbrella or raincoat will be your faithful companions on a trip to Lappeenranta.