Snow in Lapland / Ruka / October
Snow unlikely. By mid-October there was snow on the ground in Ruka in none of the last 9 winters. Early in the month that was 0 of 10 winters, by the end of October 7 of 10.
Measured at Kuusamo Kiutaköngäs by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. A solid cover of 20 cm or more was there in none of the last 9 winters.
How the snow builds up (or melts) during October, over the last 10 winters.
| Date | Any snow | 20+ cm | Typical depth | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October | 0 of 10 | 0 of 10 | 0 cm | 0–0 cm |
| 15 October | 0 of 9 | 0 of 9 | 0 cm | 0–0 cm |
| 31 October | 7 of 10 | 0 of 10 | 4 cm | 0–15 cm |
Daily temperatures at Kuusamo Kiutaköngäs over the last ten Octobers.
Tours you can book for your trip. Husky and snowshoe tours need a proper snow cover, so check the numbers above.
Affiliate links: if you book through them, Snow in Lapland may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Free alerts when Ruka has a proper snow cover, when a big snowfall is on the way, and a weekly update until your trip.
By 15 October there was snow on the ground in Ruka in none of the last 9 winters. A solid cover of 20 cm or more was there in 0 of 9.
The average daily high in October is about 4 °C and the average low about -1 °C. The coldest night in the last ten Octobers reached -19 °C.
On 15 October the sun rises around 08:09 and sets around 17:28 in Ruka: about 9 h 20 min of daylight.
Yes, October is in the northern lights season, when the nights are long and dark. You need a clear sky and some solar activity, so stay a few nights and get away from town lights.