AI-generatedHelsinki at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Aug
- Warmest month
- Jul · 21°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 17.4°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,890 h
- Rain a year
- 685 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC+2 / UTC+3
- Elevation
- 26 m
Climate in Helsinki
Helsinki has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while February is the coolest at −3 °C. With around 1,890 hours of sunshine a year, Helsinki is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 9.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: June – August
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 5°
- Midday, 13:00: about 8°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 8°
- Evening, 20:00: about 7°
- Night, 23:00: about 6°
07:5718:14
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
What is the weather like in Helsinki in October?
In October, Helsinki is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 10.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 61 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 17 min07:57 – 18:14
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 20 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 75 %on average
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+3Europe/Helsinki
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %5 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %46 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Helsinki
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 9.3 – 11.5 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Helsinki ranges from 0.8 °C in February to 17.4 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 16.3 and 18.9 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 2.1° | 0.5° | 3.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 0.8° | −0.1° | 1.5° | cold |
| MarchMar | 0.8° | 0.0° | 1.7° | cold |
| AprilApr | 2.3° | 1.0° | 3.4° | cold |
| MayMay | 6.4° | 5.2° | 7.5° | cold |
| JuneJun | 12.0° | 10.1° | 13.5° | cold |
| JulyJul | 16.6° | 14.6° | 18.6° | cold |
| AugustAug | 17.4° | 16.3° | 18.9° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 14.8° | 13.9° | 15.8° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 10.6° | 9.3° | 11.5° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 7.3° | 5.7° | 8.4° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 4.4° | 3.1° | 5.7° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Helsinki
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 2.9 of 10.3 hours of daylight in Helsinki, 28 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 4 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Helsinki
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 6).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- over 2 h
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Helsinki: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Helsinki has about 12 rainy days with 61 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 14 | −2° | −6° | 2.1° | 1.1 h | 12 | 51 |
| FebruaryFeb | 18 | −3° | −7° | 0.8° | 2.5 h | 10 | 43 |
| MarchMar | 26 | 1° | −5° | 0.8° | 4.7 h | 8 | 35 |
| AprilApr | 33 | 7° | 0° | 2.3° | 6.8 h | 9 | 38 |
| MayMay | 65 | 13° | 6° | 6.4° | 9.5 h | 9 | 46 |
| JuneJun | 83 | 18° | 11° | 12.0° | 9.3 h | 12 | 73 |
| JulyJul | 81 | 21° | 15° | 16.6° | 9.9 h | 13 | 85 |
| AugustAug | 78 | 20° | 14° | 17.4° | 8.0 h | 13 | 79 |
| SeptemberSep | 59 | 15° | 10° | 14.8° | 5.3 h | 10 | 58 |
| OctoberOct | 16 | 9° | 5° | 10.6° | 2.9 h | 12 | 61 |
| NovemberNov | 13 | 4° | 1° | 7.3° | 1.1 h | 12 | 59 |
| DecemberDec | 12 | 0° | −3° | 4.4° | 0.8 h | 13 | 57 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
60.17° N, 24.94° E · 26 m · Europe/Helsinki
Best time to visit Helsinki
The best time to visit Helsinki is from June to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 17.4 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June. Rain is most frequent from July to August and from November to December; the wettest month is July with 85 mm.
Helsinki through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Helsinki in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 1–13 °C by day
- Sea 3 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days in all
Helsinki in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 18–21 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Helsinki in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 4–15 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Helsinki in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- -3–0 °C by day
- Sea 2 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Helsinki for you.
Your best months: July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug, Nov – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Nov – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Helsinki month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
14January-2° · Sea 2° · 1 h
In January, Helsinki is freezing cold: daytime highs average −2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). The sea averages 2.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 12 days, totalling 51 mm. Snow falls on about 9 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in January18February-3° · Sea 1° · 3 h
In February, Helsinki is freezing cold: daytime highs average −3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sea averages 0.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 43 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in February26March1° · Sea 1° · 5 h
In March, Helsinki is freezing cold: daytime highs average 1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sea averages 0.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 8 days, totalling 35 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in March33April7° · Sea 2° · 7 h
In April, Helsinki is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 2.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 38 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in April65May13° · Sea 6° · 10 h
In May, Helsinki is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 6.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 46 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in May83June18° · Sea 12° · 9 h
In June, Helsinki is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in June81July21° · Sea 17° · 10 h
In July, Helsinki is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 16.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 85 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in July78August20° · Sea 17° · 8 h
In August, Helsinki is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 17.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in August59September15° · Sea 15° · 5 h
In September, Helsinki is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in September16October9° · Sea 11° · 3 h
In October, Helsinki is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 10.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 61 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in October13November4° · Sea 7° · 1 h
In November, Helsinki is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 7.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 12 days, totalling 59 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in November12December0° · Sea 4° · 1 h
In December, Helsinki is freezing cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sea averages 4.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 13 days, totalling 57 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Helsinki.
Helsinki in DecemberHelsinki compared
Put Helsinki side by side with another destination.
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Helsinki vs. Stockholm
In October Stockholm has the better holiday weather (score 24 vs. 16). During the day Stockholm is 1 °C warmer than Helsinki. The sea in Stockholm is 1 °C cooler.
| in October | Helsinki | Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 16 | 24 |
| Daytime high | 9° | 10° |
| Sea | 11° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 11 |
| Best time | Jun – Aug | Jun – Aug |
Through the year
Finland in October: the best places
In October, Helsinki ranks 1 of 2 destinations in this country.
- HelsinkiThis page9°11°16
- 2Rovaniemi4°16
Planning a trip to Helsinki
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 2 h 45 min
- Distance
- 1,840 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Helsinki
When is the best time to visit Helsinki?
The best time to visit Helsinki is from June to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Helsinki?
The sea temperature in Helsinki ranges from 0.8 °C in February to 17.4 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Helsinki in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 10.6 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Helsinki?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 15 °C. February is the coolest month at −3 °C.
When does it rain most in Helsinki?
Rain is most frequent from July to August and from November to December; the wettest month is July with 85 mm. The driest month is March with 35 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Helsinki get?
Helsinki gets around 1,890 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 9.9 hours a day; in December there are 0.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Helsinki in?
Helsinki uses the time zone Europe/Helsinki: UTC+2 in January and UTC+3 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Helsinki?
A nonstop flight from London to Helsinki takes about 2 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 1,840 km.
Near Helsinki
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Helsinki
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Helsinki's – good alternatives.