Low spring rainfall could leave Pirkanmaa lakes unusually low this summer

Tamperelainen reports that spring rainfall is scarce in Pirkanmaa, and lake levels could remain unusually low this coming summer. The Southwest Finland ELY Centre says there is little need to lower water levels in regulated lakes because snow was light, and the regulated lakes in Pirkanmaa are Näsijärvi, Pyhäjärvi, Vanajavesi, Kyrösjärvi, and Rautavesi-Kulovesi. Water management expert Sini Heikkilä notes that spring floods are forecast to be modest due to the snow situation, but developments depend on temperature and precipitation. Näsijärvi’s level has been lower in February than at any point during regulation, largely due to harbour works at Naistenlahti, but the level remains within permit limits. In northern Pirkanmaa, natural lakes are at normal or slightly higher levels for the time of year, while in southern Pirkanmaa levels are somewhat lower than usual, and authorities say monitoring will continue to respond to changing conditions as needed.