Storm Amy Hits Sweden’s West and South Coasts with Hurricane-Force Winds, Power Outages, and Transport Disruptions

Storm Amy, which recently battered Norway causing over 100,000 power outages, has now moved into Sweden, affecting the west and southern coastal regions with hurricane-strength winds and severe weather conditions. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) has issued multiple orange and yellow warnings for the coastlines, particularly targeting Skagerrak, the West Coast, and southern Skåne, warning residents to exercise caution amid falling trees, debris, and strong gusts reaching up to 33 meters per second as recorded on Nidingen.

On Saturday morning, nearly 2,000 households along the West Coast faced power outages, notably with over 1,000 Ellevio customers in Orust and 1,400 in Värmland affected by fallen trees on power lines. Traffic disruptions were prevalent, with numerous roads blocked due to downed trees across Halland and Västra Götaland. Train services have been suspended in large parts of Skåne and West Sweden, and ferry departures to Gotland have been canceled. Speed limits were reduced on several key bridges, including the E6 and Uddevallabron, to accommodate the hazardous wind conditions.

Damage from the storm has been reported with a large tree in Gothenburg collapsing onto seven cars in a parking lot, as eyewitness Marco communicated, though he maintained a nonchalant attitude toward the typically rough regional weather. Meanwhile, in Norway, Storm Amy has been described as potentially the worst storm in 25 years, having caused extensive damage, including broken windows and collapsed roofs in Bergen, and widespread power outages.

Meteorologists warn that the storm’s peak in Sweden is anticipated during Saturday morning and early afternoon, with winds expected to ease later but possibly picking up again overnight. Officials have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and caution against going out to sea unless absolutely necessary.

SMHI’s warnings emphasize the heightened risk posed by the storm given the early autumn conditions, where full tree foliage raises the likelihood of fallen trees and power disruptions. Transportation entities have communicated ongoing cancellations and safety measures to minimize hazard exposure.

The situation is evolving, with authorities continuing to monitor the storm’s path and impact across Sweden’s coastal areas and urging vigilance among the population.