Stormy Weather Causes Road Closures in Norway’s Mountains

– Today and into the day tomorrow there is a bit of stormy weather around, says traffic operator Marius Næss at Vegtrafikksentralen West.

Precipitation in the form of snow, together with the wind, gives some pack snow in the mountains on Sunday.

– Especially on Hardangervidda, we see that it blows quite well towards the road. So they work on it up there, says Næss.

• National highway 7 over Hardangervidda: Closed. New assessment at 15 Sunday.
• Fv. 50 Hol-Aurland: Closed.
• Riksveg 52 Hemsedalsfjellet: Open, but slippery sections and occasionally poor visibility.
• E134 Haukelifjell: Ope.
• Fv. 55 Sognefjellet: Does not open after night closing. New assessment Monday at 12.
• Fv. 53 Tyin-Årdal: Closed due to risk of avalanches. New assessment at 14.
• Fv. 51 Valdresflye: Closed.
• Fv. 2814 Imingfjell: Closed.
• Fv. 27 Venabygdsfjellet: Closed. New assessment at 16.

You can find the status of all mountain crossings her.

– If you are going over the mountain, winter tires are now required. Then there is keeping up-to-date on the road announcements on 175.no and following the weather forecast, says Næss.

Sognefjellet closed until Monday

Northern Europe’s highest mountain pass, formerly 55 Sognefjellet, open after winter closure on 28 April.

The mountain crossing will be closed at night from 20:00 to 08:00 for some time to come.

On Sunday, however, the mountain pass is completely closed due to the storm, and a new assessment will be made on Monday at 12.

– They closed there as usual at night yesterday. Then it was assessed today that they will not be able to open it today, says Næss.

Forecast snow

It had been sent out yellow danger warning of snow pike for parts of the mountain in southern Norway on Saturday. The notice applies until Sunday at 10.

– It will be a bit windy throughout the day, so you have to expect slightly reduced attendance on some mountain passes, said traffic operator Marianne Hove on Saturday.

She encourages motorists to follow 175.no to get updated traffic reports.

Snow was forecast for parts of Western Norway this weekend.

The last weekend in April may clear in several places in Norway.

For Northern Norway, the weather will change, with periods of both precipitation and sunshine. West of the mountains and in Trøndelag, precipitation and some wind are expected.

– Winter has not waved goodbye quite yet, says meteorologist Charalampos Sarchosidis.