State meteorologists were forecasting a major storm set to move in over much of southern Norway on Tuesday, bringing with it gale force winds, torrential rainfall and high seas. Boat owners were cautioned against heading out on the Oslo Fjord.
“Now folks should refrain from heading out to sea,” meteorologist Øyvind Johnsen told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).
Waves as high as four meters could be stirred up on the Oslo Fjord, which generally is relatively calm. Heavy rains were forecast for much of Østfold and Oppland counties, with the most precipitation expected west of the large Lake Mjøsa.
Small craft warnings were out on all bodies of water and boat owners were urged to double-check their vessels’ moorings. “We’re expecting that moorings are going to be under extreme pressure, that docks and boats can be swamped and sink,” Pål Bustgaard, skipper on board the search and rescue vessel Horn Flyer told NRK.
Strong winds Tuesday morning had died down by early afternoon but were predicted to start blowing again Tuesday afternoon and evening. The meteorologists were forecasting what the Norwegians call sterk kuling, or strong gales.
Storms were forecast on the Skagerrak, between Norway and Denmark, with waves possibly hitting as high as five meters in the outer Oslo Fjord. Rescue crews had to come to the aid of a sailboat off Arendal, on Norway’s southern coast, Tuesday morning.
Torrential rains were expected from Koppang at the northern end of Østerdalen, all through Gudbrandsdalen and the mountain areas west to Valdres and Geilo, and especially in Telemark and around the southern border areas near Halden.
Flood warnings were also in effect, with as much as 40 millimeters of rain expected in some areas.
Views and News from Norway/Nina Berglund
Join our Forum if you’d like to comment on this story.
