Norway, Denmark and Sweden have agreed on a new system of naming extreme weather systems in Scandinavia. Sweden was the first to put it into practice this weekend, after Anna wreaked havoc with heavy snow and strong winds.
The new system agreed upon by the state meteorological institutes in each Scandinavian country took effect from January 1. It’s an alphabetical system alternating with names for women and men, and meant to recognize how storms often cross borders.
The Anna storm that moved into southeastern Sweden from Denmark on Saturday, causing problems all along the Swedish east coast to Kalmar and beyond Stockholm, was the first name to be used in the new system. The next names to be attached to storms in Scandinavia will be Bjørn, Cecilia, Daniel, Elena, Filip, Gunilla, Hugo, Ida and Johan.
“It’s important to have clear communication amongst us and the various preparedness agencies,” Bård Fjukstad of the Norwegian meteorological institute told newspaper Aftenposten. “Also for people in general. It’s critical to have consistent warnings of dangerous weather across borders.”
NewsinEnglish.no staff
