Regional water situation

Central Finland, Päijät-Häme and Kymenlaakso 29.5.

The water levels of natural lakes in the Kymijoki river basin have mainly remained exceptionally low for the season. Rainfall at the end of May has raised water levels only slightly in the eastern parts of the river basin. The low-snow winter, early spring and low rainfall in March and April will continue to be visible at water levels for a long time.

The difference between the water level in Lake Päijänne and the average seasonal level will increase until late June, as the water level is normally at its highest in midsummer. Now it has remained at roughly the same levels since the end of April, but the recent rainfall has not yet caused it to decline. The outflow from Lake Päijänne has remained at approximately 120-140 m3/s. In the lower reaches of River Kymijoki in Kuusankoski, the flow rate has approached the 130 m3/s minimum limit.

On the Mäntyharju route, the flow regulation of Lake Puula is kept small, which is visible in the water body below. Rainfall since mid-May has slightly improved the water situation. Still, unless rainfall in the coming weeks is considerably heavier than average, water levels will be low in the summer.

Of the lakes in the northern part of the river basin, the outflow of Lake Keitele will be limited, so that the water level does not fall below the minimum water level required for navigation channels from spring to mid-October. In May, the water level has remained at around the same level. The water level of Lake Pielavesi-Nilakka has risen slightly due to the rainfall of recent weeks but is still approximately 40 cm below the seasonal average. Elsewhere in the river basin, lakes along the Jämsä route, for example, have risen slightly.