The traditional Birkebeiner ski race over the mountains of eastern Norway is being moved for the first time ever, from Saturday to Sunday this weekend. Organizers feared strong winds and heavy rain could have forced cancellation otherwise.
Both the jury and organizers of the cross-country race that still attracts thousands of skiers decided to move the race and the shorter HalvBirken to Sunday March 17 because of “extremely poor weather forecasts” on Saturday. All start times remain the same. Two other versions of the race scheduled for Friday would take place as scheduled.
The storm warnings issued Thursday involve near hurricane-force winds from the west coast of Norway and all the way north to Finnmark. Møre og Romsdal and Trøndelag are expected to be hit especially hard, with residents told to be prepared for closed bridges and cancelled ferries.
A polar low-pressure system was also forecast in fishing grounds off the coast of Nordland. Despite recent signs of spring in some areas, state meteorologists were predicting “full storm and powerful blizzards” in northern areas.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
