WET AND COLD: In Oslo, many motorists encountered water in the road after rain on the night of Thursday. There will be more of that, warn the meteorologists. Photo: Tore Kristiansen / VG
Large amounts of rainfall are expected along the coast of Southern and Eastern Norway, as well as a full storm in the Skagerrak on Friday. Color Line sets several departures.
Thursday 22 February at 22:36
While many are now leaning back in their armchairs in anticipation of their last weekend of winter holiday, excited residents in Innlandet, Rogaland, Nordland, Vestland and parts of Viken sit and rub their hands.
Next week it’s their turn to strap on their skis and hit the newly ridden slopes (or embark on other leisure activities).
However, the weather has decided to treat all Norwegians equally during the holiday weeks. This week we were asked to plan for indoor activities and it has been gray and raining a lot.
Will the next one be better?
– We probably can’t expect that, says on-duty meteorologist Stine Sagen to VG.
But first, the weekend!
In Østfold and parts of Vestfold, conditions will be rough, with so much wind that the Meteorological Institute has issued a yellow danger warning.
– It may be relevant to extend the warning further north in Østfold due to the wind, says Sagen.
A full storm has been forecast in the Skagerrak, and wind gusts of 25–37 meters per second.
Color Line stated on Thursday that they are canceling several departures on Friday.
The departures that are affected go between Kristiansand and Hirtshals, and Sandefjord and Strömstad. Other departures have new departure times.
Risk of flooding along the coast
Along the coast, from Arendal to Oslo and Akershus, large amounts of rain have been reported overnight to Friday.
The Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) has sent out yellow warning for flood risk in the region.
– The warning applies to water in rivers and streams, and there is a risk of ice. There is a lot of ice in the rivers and streams after the cold winter we have had, and this means that there is a danger of ice loosening and forming ice jams – which in turn can cause local floods, says hydrologist Erik Holmqvist to VG.
He says motorists on the roads from Agder to Oslo and Akershus must be prepared for water in the roadway.
– It is particularly the night to Friday and early tomorrow that it becomes most problematic, says Holmqvist.
LEVEL 2: Along the coast in southern and eastern Norway it will be wet on Friday morning. Photo: Screen dump / Varsom.no
– Calculate extra good time
The meteorologists also warn that fresh snow and strong winds can cause snow drifts in the mountains in Eastern Norway on Friday. The warning applies to Heiane, Hardangervidda, Vikafjell, Jotunheimen and Strynefjellet.
Norwegians with plans to get behind the wheel and drive up into the mountains on holiday should therefore be aware that snowpack can cause reduced visibility and difficult driving conditions.
– The weather can create challenges at the mountain passes. Five to seven centimeters of snow can fall in 24 hours from Friday to Saturday. Motorists should check the weather forecast, follow road warnings and calculate extra time, says meteorologist Sagen.
SNØFOKK: Motorists who will be driving up the mountain on Friday should give the mountains extra time. Photo: Meteorological Institute / Yr
A lot of snow is also expected in the interior of Western Norway from Friday afternoon. In some places, 20 centimeters of snow can fall in a day, which can cause difficult driving conditions.
Tromsø is the weather winner this weekend
So, on to the biggest cities.
As usual, Bergen, the capital of Western Norway, has a wet and rather windy weekend ahead. Oslo can expect a “gray period”, while Trondheim might get a bit of sun on Sunday. Bodø gets gray weather and rain on Sunday, while Tromsø leaves as the weekend’s weather winner with several hours of sun on Saturday!
And then there was the coming holiday week, and possibly the work week for everyone in Oslo, parts of Viken, Møre and Romsdal, Vestfold and Telemark, Agder, Vestland and Trøndelag then.
Will there be any weather winners?
– Well, says meteorologist Sagen:
– Not bad weather.
2024-02-22 21:34:14
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