Oulu, in northern Finland close to the Gulf of Bothnia, receives around 500 mm (about 20 inches) of rain a year, less than southern Finnish cities, reflecting its more northerly position where colder air limits the intensity of convective summer storms compared with further south. Rain is fairly evenly spread through the shorter summer season, with the long winters bringing snow rather than rain. The gulf’s waters moderate the immediate coastal climate somewhat compared with locations further inland at the same latitude. Because Oulu’s weather-related risks are generally more modest than southern Finland’s, radar is mainly used here to time outdoor activity around the relatively brief, more intense summer rain season. Finland’s Meteorological Institute operates the national radar network.
Learn more: How Does Rain Radar Work? · Open the full Rain Map