All mountain roads and many other highways were closed in Norway’s northernmost county of Finnmark on Thursday, because of heavy snow and avalanche danger. One family from Sortland was left stuck in their car for nearly a full day.
State broadcaster NRK reported that Leif Helge Pedersen and his family got caught in Langfjordbotn after snow crashed down on the highway between Nordskjobotn and Alta. Then the road behind them over Kvænangsfjellet closed because of storms and lack of visibility, so they couldn’t turn around.
“It’s a different sort of Easter holiday this year,” Pedersen told NRK. “It’s incredibly bording to just be sitting here.
Many communities have been cut off around Finnmark, including coastal towns where boats can’t moor either. One fishing boat swapped its fish for milk and bread to ensure food supplies for residents around Honningsvåg, where the weather at least allowed boat traffic after roads in and out of town were closed.
The weather was far better in Southern Norway, with clear blue skies and sunshine but unusually cold temperatures down to minus-20C at night.
newsinenglish.no staff
