Swedish motorists caught out by icy roads
With the balmy days of the recent "Indian summer" consigned to memory, the first freeze of the season has rendered roads icy and treacherous in northern areas of Sweden.
"One should be vigilant, especially in inland areas," said Emil Björck at meteorological office SMHI.
Despite the fact that there remains over seven weeks before the requirement for winter tyres comes into force, the weather is already causing problems for motorists.
With sub-zero temperatures across northern parts of the country and as far down as Gävleborg and Dalarna, patches of black ice surprised many drivers early on Monday morning.
"We have had rain during the night and then when the clouds pass the heat disappears, it drops below freezing and then it freezes on road surfaces," Björck said.
Björck advised that with the dawn of day the conditions improved somewhat melting the patches of ice.
"Freezing temperatures then eased when the sun came up and it will probably not be slippery during the day, except in the morning," he said.
The week ahead holds out the prospect of more rain, but then the risk of slippery roads will decline as a high pressure front returns.
"Then there will not be so much precipitation, but mostly just below zero temperatures," Emil Björck said.
According to the meteorologist there is little risk of the prevailing road chaos affecting southern Norway - which has caused numerous traffic accidents on Monday - spreading to Sweden with westerly winds keeping the cool air at bay.
"The mountains are like an umbrella," Björck explained.
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"One should be vigilant, especially in inland areas," said Emil Björck at meteorological office SMHI.
Despite the fact that there remains over seven weeks before the requirement for winter tyres comes into force, the weather is already causing problems for motorists.
With sub-zero temperatures across northern parts of the country and as far down as Gävleborg and Dalarna, patches of black ice surprised many drivers early on Monday morning.
"We have had rain during the night and then when the clouds pass the heat disappears, it drops below freezing and then it freezes on road surfaces," Björck said.
Björck advised that with the dawn of day the conditions improved somewhat melting the patches of ice.
"Freezing temperatures then eased when the sun came up and it will probably not be slippery during the day, except in the morning," he said.
The week ahead holds out the prospect of more rain, but then the risk of slippery roads will decline as a high pressure front returns.
"Then there will not be so much precipitation, but mostly just below zero temperatures," Emil Björck said.
According to the meteorologist there is little risk of the prevailing road chaos affecting southern Norway - which has caused numerous traffic accidents on Monday - spreading to Sweden with westerly winds keeping the cool air at bay.
"The mountains are like an umbrella," Björck explained.
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