Winter returned with a vengeance to wide areas of southern Norway this week, with as many as 30 centimeters of snow falling in some spots around Oslo. Since almost all motorists have followed the rules and switched from winter to summer tires, driving was hazardous and police reported a string of accidents.
Some of the most severe occurred in Hadeland north of Oslo, with a head-on collision on state highway RV4 at Jaren. Accidents and slippery roads were also reported in Romerike, Østfold, Follo and other areas of Oppland County.
Schoolbus transport had to be halted in Hadeland, where 25 centimeters were reported around Gran and 30 centimeters in the hills at Mylla, a popular winter skiing area where trails were once again being groomed.
Police all over southeastern Norway urged motorists not to drive. “It’s a bit chaotic,” Marianne Brun, operations leader at the police station in Gjøvik, told Norwegian Broadcastng (NRK). “We have collisions and cars and trucks running off the road.” Several highways were blocked by trucks that lost control and skidded sideways over both lanes of traffic.
Norway’s national automobile federation NAF announced that motorists had two choices: “Shift back to winter tires or keep your car parked.”
Temperatures were due to rise during the weekend again, with rain in Oslo on Saturday and some sun on for May Day parades on Sunday, with temperatures as high as 10C.
newsinenglish.no staff
