IN PICTURES: Christmas travel chaos and blizzards as Storm Pia batters Sweden
Storm Pia swept in across Sweden at the most inopportune time: the busy travel days running up to Christmas.
Sweden's national weather agency SMHI issued alerts for several parts of Sweden.
An orange warning of high water levels was in place for the south-western coast, with the sea expected to reach "very high levels on Friday".
The water in the Öresund strait was 140 centimetres higher than normal on Friday. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
There was a yellow snowstorm warning in large parts of Götaland, Gotland and Svealand – southern and central Sweden, including Stockholm.
And in the Gävle region, that warning was upgraded to orange, with 20-25 centimetres of snow set to fall overnight.
Be prepared for traffic chaos and public transport cancellations and allow plenty of time for travel.
EXPLAINED:
Travellers from Copenhagen Airport on Friday morning were presumably relieved to find that trains from Sweden to Denmark had started running again, after they were cancelled on Thursday evening.
There were however several bus routes and trains that remained suspended in southern Sweden, and travellers were advised to check public transport operator Skånetrafiken's website before setting out.
Several ferry lines were cancelled on Friday. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
Stena Line cancelled ferries from Karlskrona, Hamstad and Trelleborg to Rostock and Gdynia on Friday.
The Swedish Transport Administration didn't warn people against travelling by car, but urged drivers to take it easy, especially in areas affected by snow.
The storm was expected to subside by Saturday.
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Sweden's national weather agency SMHI issued alerts for several parts of Sweden.
An orange warning of high water levels was in place for the south-western coast, with the sea expected to reach "very high levels on Friday".
There was a yellow snowstorm warning in large parts of Götaland, Gotland and Svealand – southern and central Sweden, including Stockholm.
And in the Gävle region, that warning was upgraded to orange, with 20-25 centimetres of snow set to fall overnight.
Be prepared for traffic chaos and public transport cancellations and allow plenty of time for travel.
EXPLAINED:
Travellers from Copenhagen Airport on Friday morning were presumably relieved to find that trains from Sweden to Denmark had started running again, after they were cancelled on Thursday evening.
There were however several bus routes and trains that remained suspended in southern Sweden, and travellers were advised to check public transport operator Skånetrafiken's website before setting out.
Stena Line cancelled ferries from Karlskrona, Hamstad and Trelleborg to Rostock and Gdynia on Friday.
The Swedish Transport Administration didn't warn people against travelling by car, but urged drivers to take it easy, especially in areas affected by snow.
The storm was expected to subside by Saturday.
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