Heat wave hits northern Europe

In Scandinavia spring came early, with temperatures up to 10 C higher than normal.

During mid-April, temperatures in northern Finland reached 13 C or 14 C, much higher than the normal 5 C.

In Sodankylä, Finland, warm temperatures arrived three weeks ahead of schedule, causing flowers to bloom and birch trees to leaf out.

In northern Norway, spring 2002 has been the warmest recorded in the past 125 years.