The snowstorm buried cities in Norway under a meter of snow.
A snowstorm paralyzed the southern part of Norway in early January 2024, leaving thousands without electricity and burying the cities of Risør, Grimstad, and Arendal under a 100-centimeter layer of snow.
In Risør, 102 cm of snow fell in the last three days. The height of the snowdrifts reached 120 cm, setting a record for the entire observation history since 1985.
Continuous snowfall led to the suspension of local railway lines, traffic jams, and power outages. Schools along the coast announced closures.
Problems also occurred in the capital, Oslo: bus services were hindered, and the E6 highway was closed after a serious accident.
Public transport in the Oslo area faced difficulties, and the state agency Ruter considered the possibility of a complete suspension of bus services due to the heavy snowfall.
The snowfall paralyzed mail delivery and interrupted waste removal services in the city.
Officials urged motorists to stock up on warm clothing, food, and shovels, emphasizing the unpredictability of the blizzard.
Residents of Southern Norway were advised to work from home due to dangerous weather conditions and to drive only when necessary.
After several days of heavy snowfall, the sky cleared, and abnormally strong frosts set in. The lowest temperature was recorded in the northern province of Finnmark, where thermometers dropped below -40°C. Similar temperatures were observed in central and inland parts of Norway, including the cities of Folladal and Røros.
It was so cold that Oslo's central railway station offered shelter to the homeless. City shelters and the Salvation Army also expanded the number of places for people seeking refuge from the cold.
Due to the abnormal cold, ski resorts, including Hemsedal and Strandafjellet in the Sunnmøre Alps, closed chairlifts. "It's too cold to operate them, and it's unsafe for our guests," said NRK's Mari Rikshaim from Strandafjellet.
Schools also remained closed for a week in the southern coastal area.
The inclement weather also affected neighboring countries. Drivers in southern Sweden got stranded in their cars overnight because it was impossible to pass on the main road due to deep snow. The Swedish armed forces delivered food and water to nearly 1000 cars stuck in heavy snowfall for almost 24 hours.
The ferry, operating between the capitals of Norway and Denmark, couldn't dock in Copenhagen due to bad weather. About 900 passengers were forced to spend the night on board the ship, parked in the Øresund strait between Denmark and southern Sweden.
In Swedish Lapland, in Kvikjokk-Orrerjaurke, a temperature of -43.6°C was recorded. This data sets a new absolute record for the meteorological station since 1901.
Record precipitation, sharp temperature fluctuations, abnormal cold and heat, hurricane winds - all these phenomena are rapidly intensifying. How climate events will develop further and whether we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from natural disasters? Find the answers here. Global Crisis. The Responsibility