Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

Snow, winds and minus 30 degrees: Sweden’s weather forecast

Strong winds and heavy snowfall has hit much of southern Sweden this week. What's expected for the coming days?

Published: 8 March 2023 09:19 CET
Updated: 8 March 2023 16:32 CET
Snow, winds and minus 30 degrees: Sweden's weather forecast
Buses at Slussen in Stockholm on Wednesday morning. Photo: Lars Schröder/TT

Snow and strong winds caused problems for southern and central Sweden on Tuesday, with orange and yellow warnings issued for several areas. The cold weather front has moved out towards the Baltic Sea and only northern Gotland was still under a weather warning on Wednesday evening. 

On Thursday, some parts of western and central Sweden near Gothenburg and southwest of lake Vänern will see returning snowfall, with SMHI placing these areas under a yellow weather warning until Thursday afternoon or even Friday morning in some areas.

SMHI’s orange weather warnings for snow on Thursday March 9th. Photo: SMHI

Northern Sweden saw calmer conditions on Wednesday, although it was very cold. Northern Lappland and Norrbotten saw temperatures of minus 30 predicted for with slightly milder – but still cold – temperatures around minus 20 in southern Norrland.

Thursday is likely to be warmer than Wednesday in northern Sweden, with temperatures in the minus-20s forecast in most areas.

The cold spell across the country is expected to continue throughout Thursday and Friday, with new snowfall expected for the southern parts of the country, albeit less heavy than at the start of the week.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

WEATHER

Weather agency warns of further forest fire risk across Sweden

Sweden's weather agency SMHI has extended its weather warnings for grass and forest fires which now cover most of the country. Fire bans are in place in many areas.

Published: 25 May 2023 15:22 CEST
Weather agency warns of further forest fire risk across Sweden

The risk for forest fires is now “very high” in many areas of southern Sweden, the agency warns, with an “extremely high” risk of forest fires in eastern Götaland, an area in the southeast of the country encompassing cities such as Linköping and Vimmerby.

In the north of Sweden, many areas have a high or very high risk of grass fires as last year’s dead grass is exposed by melting snow before new grass has time to take its place.

“Great care should be taken when lighting fires outside,” the agency writes, adding that fire bans are in place in many areas.

See a list of current fire bans in place here. Areas in green have no fire ban in place, while red or orange areas have either a fire ban or a “strict fire ban” in place.

During a fire ban, you are not permitted to light a fire with wood, coal, grass, branches or similar in any forest area, non-built up area or area where a fire could spread to a forest or other terrain.

You are allowed to grill or barbecue on your own property as long as the grill is in a suitable area so that there is a low risk of a fire spreading – for example, if the grill is placed on a heat-resistant surface. The same applies to restaurants or other commercial businesses on their own premises.

You are also permitted to grill in fixed barbecue areas in public parks, such as barbecue areas built in fireproof materials and surrounded by gravel or similar.

According to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the fire risk is likely to increase throughout the week, peaking on Sunday.

SHOW COMMENTS