Unusually mild weather and rain was abruptly giving way to colder temperatures and even snow in both Northern- and Southern Norway this week. State highway officials were warning motorists not to drive into or over the mountains unless their vehicles are already equipped with winter tires.
That’s often not necessary until November, but as much as a half-meter of snow was expected to fall on some mountain passes. Roads were already covered with the white stuff over Strynefjellet Monday morning.
“Forecasts call for lots of precipitation, so if you’re heading for the highest elevations, only winter tires apply,” Annie Serup of the state highway department (Statens vegvesen) told state broadcaster NRK. She said emergency crews were prepared but the weather could be rough over Strynefjellet and Valdresflye. Lots of snow was also forecast from Finnmark, Ofoten and Sør-Troms in the north to the mountains of Hordaland, Hedmark, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Møre of Romsdal and Trøndelag in the south.
Flood warnings were also up in some areas of Romsdal and Trøndelag. With schools closed and lots of Norwegians on traditional høstferie (autumn holidays) this week, many people are at their hytter (cabins) in the mountains. From highs of nearly 20C on Saturday, thermometers were already dropping to well under 10C.
newsinenglish.no staff
