After more than a week of brilliant, if late, summer weather, state meteorologists were warning residents of southern Norway to brace for a major downpour on Tuesday. Flood warnings were posted in nine counties.
Clear sunny skies were already clouding over on Monday and the weather was forecast to get much worse during the night. Strong winds were expected to bring with them rain from the south, as a low pressure system moved in.
The counties of Vest-Agder, Aust-Agder, Telemark, Vestfold, Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo, Akershus and Oppland were due to be hit the hardest. The state meteorological institute predicted as much as 60 millimeters of rain in some areas, and between 25 and 45 millimeters on average around southern Norway.
“The rain may start falling this afternoon or tonight (Monday),” meteorologist Børje Johansson told state broadcaster NRK. “But it’s first on Tuesday that we’ll get some really heavy rain, up to 50 to 60 millimeters.”
That amounts to downpours that can cause local flooding and minor mudslides. Small craft warnings were also posted at sea.
Temperatures, meanwhile, were due to decline from the warm mid-20s posted over the weekend. The forecasters were expecting highs around 17-18C over much of the country, with more rain on Thursday.
newsinenglish.no staff
