A powerful low-pressure system was heading for Norway on Thursday and bound to bring heavy rain on top of all that’s fallen in recent weeks. State officials wouldn’t rule out a red-alert for Friday, after meteorologists forecast up to 150mm of rain in during a 24-hour period.
They’re all worried about the threat of both flooding and landslides, especially in the mountainous area from Geiranger in the north to Sauda in the south. Towns including Førde, Sogndal and Odda were all targets, in addition to Bergen and many other locations along the west coast.
The rain has already led to lower electricity rates, as mountain reservoirs fill up to generate more hydroelectric power. Now it’s posing problems after an unusually dry summer and autumn, and people were being warned to stay away from rivers and creeks, to clear all drains and waterspouts and secure valuables in cellars. Some officials were equating the predicted downpours to an “atmospheric river.”
Traffic warnings were also posted because of excess water on the roads. The low-pressure systsem was building up west of the Azores in the Atlantic and setting course towards Norway and Vestlandet, with full storm alerts also posted for Stad and its West Cape.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
