syystuuli

Syystuuli, literally "autumn wind" in Finnish, is a term used to describe the wind patterns commonly observed during autumn in Finland and the surrounding Nordic-Baltic region. It refers to the transitional weather between summer and winter when maritime and continental air masses interact, leading to variable and occasionally gusty winds and unsettled conditions. Though not a formal meteorological category, syystuuli appears in weather forecasts, literature, and folklore as a shorthand for the characteristic autumn wind regime.

Origin: from syys- "autumn" and tuuli "wind". In everyday Finnish, syystuuli captures the sense of brisk, fluctuating winds that signal the changing season. While meteorologists may describe the broader seasonal transition without using the term, the expression remains common in newspapers, regional dialects, and seasonal prose.

Patterns and effects: the wind is often moderate but variable in direction, with stronger gusts associated with passing storms and frontal systems. It frequently accompanies rain and leaden skies, and its onset marks the shift toward colder weather. Regional variation is notable: coastal areas may experience stronger westerly or southwesterly gales, while inland zones may see calmer periods interrupted by fronts. The concept also appears in poetry and folklore as a symbol of seasonal change and preparation for winter.