State meteorologists were warning residents of southeastern Norway to brace for the first major snowstorm of the season heading into the weekend. As much as 40 centimeters of snow may fall in the mountains and eastern lowlands, also in Oslo.
“Winter is coming,” announced weather forecasters on Thursday after temperatures also in the Norwegian capital sank to the freezing point. The snowfall expected from Friday through Sunday was also due to be followed by a period of “Siberian cold” bearing down on southern Norway and parts of Sweden.
The counties of Hedmark and Oppland got their first major snowfall earlier this week, with Østfold, Oslo, Buskerud and Akershus now set to get their share. Residents of Telemark and Aust-Agder were also told to be ready for the biggest dump, of around 30 to 40 centimeters.
State meteorologist Kristen Gislefoss told state broadcaster NRK Thursday that rain, then sleet and snow was due to fall from Friday morning. Snow was expected through Saturday and into Sunday.
Western Norway was expected to be drier with even some sunny skies that may shine on Northern Norway as well, until early winter darkness sets in. Temperatures in Southern Norway were due to dive on Saturday, with snow falling throughout the day and likely to stick around because of the cold front moving in from Siberia.
“It can be quite cold next week,” Gislefoss told NRK, adding that the cold snap could last for several days. Temperatures in Røros were predicted to sink to minus-20C during the night. Oslo would also be well below freezing along with Kristiansand, Bergen and Trondheim.
Some ski resorts were planning to open in the mountains but motorists were warned of hazardous driving conditions Friday and Saturday. Nordmarka, the popular forest and hills north of Oslo, was also due to turn white, with newspaper Aftenposten reporting that ski trail groomers were ready to get to work at Ringkollen in Krokskogen as soon as enough snow builds up.
newsinenglish.no/Nina Berglund
