Severe Cold Snap in Sweden Leads to Harrowing Lockout Experience in Farsta

Sweden is experiencing an unusually cold February 2026, with temperatures plunging unexpectedly and causing disruptions for residents. In Stockholm's southern suburb Farsta, John Ogunnoiki, aged 30, endured a frightening ordeal when he was locked out of his apartment amid minus 15 degrees Celsius. After his key fob ceased functioning around 3 AM, John found himself stranded in the freezing cold. He sought refuge in the building's garbage room to keep warm, checking intermittently if he could re-enter. Despite police attempts to unlock the door, presumably affected by the extreme cold, they were unsuccessful. It was only after about an hour that a neighbor intervened to help John back inside. His landlord, Wallenstam, expressed surprise and concern, noting they had never encountered such an issue and pledged to investigate further.

Meteorologist Viktor Bergman from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) explains that a persistent high-pressure system has trapped cold air over the region, resulting in one of the chilliest Februaries in recent memory. This has led to frequent snow warnings in southern areas such as Skåne, frozen lakes like Mälaren in Stockholm becoming walkable, and significantly below-average temperatures in the north.

The extreme conditions are clearly affecting daily life, as seen in John's case, highlighting the tangible impacts of this rare cold weather event across Sweden.