Severe Winter Storm Causes Major Disruptions Across Sweden

Sweden is grappling with intense winter weather that has led to widespread disruptions across several regions. A severe winter storm accompanied by heavy snowfall and strong winds has been particularly impactful in Västernorrland County and southern parts of the country.

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued a red warning and VMA for heavy snowfall and strong winds on January 8 and 9, affecting areas from just south of Härnösand to west of Örnsköldsvik. In Västernorrland, the Aspeå measurement station recorded 51 centimeters of snowfall in a 24-hour period, with total snow depths reaching 90 to 150 centimeters in Kramfors. This unprecedented snowfall prompted Kramfors municipality to deploy snow vehicles to maintain home care services and urge parents to keep children at home. Schools in Härnösand closed and moved to remote learning due to the hazardous conditions. Approximately 1,000 households lost power, and hospitals activated emergency protocols. Train services between Sundsvall and Umeå were suspended due to unsafe weather.

Further south in Skåne, hazardous snowdrifts and slippery roads have caused multiple traffic accidents. Notably, a serious collision involving four vehicles in Vellinge municipality resulted in three people being hospitalized, with at least two sustaining serious injuries. The Swedish Transport Administration warns motorists to exercise caution amid continuing difficult road conditions.

In Gävleborg County, residents are enduring longer-term effects of the storm. Annacarin Sjöholm and Emil Norberg in Hamrångefjärden have been without electricity for nearly two weeks after Storm Johannes struck on December 27. Despite preparations including wood stoves and a backup generator, their daily routine involves fetching drinking water and battling freezing conditions. Utility workers are actively working to restore power, and there is cautious hope electricity will return soon.

In Gothenburg, snow disposal has reached critical levels, prompting authorities to allow snow dumping into the river, which is typically prohibited. Public transport remains disrupted widely due to snowdrifts.

SMHI forecasts that snowfall will decrease Friday as the storm moves westward, with a relatively calm weekend ahead, although cold temperatures are expected in clear areas. Authorities and emergency services continue their efforts to manage the storm's impact on communities across Sweden.