As Lapland experiences unseasonably mild winter temperatures, travel plans are being disrupted due to a lack of snow. Popular holiday firm TUI has been forced to cancel some trips to Finnish Lapland, including the ‘official home of Santa’ in Rovaniemi, due to the absence of snow. The company cited heavy rainfall washing away what little snow remained, making wintry excursions impossible.
Affected guests have been offered options to change their travel dates, rebook other holidays with a discount, or receive a full refund. Other travel agents are using snow cannons to ensure visitors can still enjoy the winter experience they had anticipated.
The lack of snow is not just impacting Lapland, as experts attribute the mild winter to climate change. Finnish Lapland experienced the warmest summer on record this year, with temperatures 2 to 3.5 degrees higher than average. The trend of mild winters and erratic snowfall is expected to continue due to climate change, with experts warning of more unpredictable weather patterns in the future.
Despite the current lack of snow in Lapland, some areas are expected to receive a small amount in the coming days. However, the packed ice underneath may make conditions unfavorable for popular winter activities. As climate change continues to affect regions like Lapland, travelers and tourism operators will need to adapt to the changing weather patterns.
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