Regional water situation

Central Finland, Päijät-Häme and Kymenlaakso 23.4.

In the Kymijoki river basin, water levels of lakes are likely to remain significantly lower than average throughout the summer. The winter was low in snow, and the spring came early, causing water levels to start declining early. Rainfall has also been low in April, which has exacerbated the situation. The spring declines of regulated lakes have been kept low if possible, and efforts have been made to improve the situation by reducing flow regulation with derogations. Rainfall is expected at the end of the week, but the amount of rainfall in the summer would have to be very high in order to normalise the situation.

The water level in Lake Päijänne has risen slightly over 20 cm from its lowest level at the beginning of March and, according to the current forecast, may possibly only rise by a few centimetres next month. Therefore, it will also remain considerably lower than usual throughout the summer. The outflow from Lake Päijänne is now approximately 140 m3/s, and the discharge is around 180 m3/s in Kuusankoski in the lower reaches of River Kymijoki.

On the Mäntyharju route, the discharge of Lake Puula will be restricted due to the drought risk by means of a derogation. In the current water situation, the regulation permit requires a flow regulation of 34 m3/s from Kissakoski, but the derogation allows a flow regulation of 12 m3/s until 1 June. Unless the precipitation levels of early summer are not much higher than average, water levels may still remain low in the late summer.

Of the lakes in the northern part of the river basin, the water level of Lake Keitele has already started to decline, while it is usually at its highest in June. The water level of Lake Pielavesi-Nilakka is already declining, approximately one month earlier than usual. The water level is currently only slightly lower than average, but the average spring flood peak is almost half a metre above the highest level of this spring.