Finland is set for a blustery weekend as a deep low pressure system moves north along the Norwegian coast.

It will intensify winds in Finland, especially in western maritime districts, where a storm warning has already been issued.

According to Yle meteorologist Anne Borgström, the low pressure system is moving so slowly that the winds won't start winding down until Saturday.

"There are still no storm readings after tomorrow night," Borgström said on Friday afternoon.

The average wind speed in the northern part of the Bothnian Sea may reach over 21 metres per second. On the Bothnian Bay and the Quark, wind speeds may reach 19 metres per second.

Windy at the top

Borgström noted that powerful, gusty winds are already buffeting higher elevations in Finnish Lapland.

"The strongest readings so far have been measured there. A gust of 26.2 metres was measured on Saana fell in Kilpisjärvi, and one of 23.7 metres per second at Luosto fell in Sodankylä," she said.

With an elevation of just over 1,000m, Saana is one of Finland’s highest peaks, while Luosto is about half its height.

In Ostrobothnia, readings of over 20 metres have also already been measured in the west-coast towns of Korsnäs, Korsholm and Vaasa.

Flooding in the west, snow in Lapland

Warnings of gusty winds have also been issued for Southwest Finland, Satakunta and Ostrobothnia. Gusts could reach exceeed 24 metres per second, but will likely weaken by Friday evening.

"On Saturday, winds will subside in southern and central parts of the country," Borgström predicted.

Otherwise, the weekend will bring a mix of sun, rain and sleet. Temperatures ranging between 11 degrees Celsius in the southeast and -2 degrees in the far northwest, which should get some snow.

Besides wind warnings, the Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued alerts for local flooding in parts of Ostrobothnia, and for poor driving conditions in the northwestern arm on Saturday, due to snow.