Storm Johannes Continues to Disrupt Sweden with Fallen Trees, Power Outages, and Safety Concerns

Storm Johannes has caused widespread disruption across Sweden, particularly in the northern regions, with lingering hazards even as weather warnings have been downgraded. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) lifted its orange alert early Sunday morning but maintained warnings in northern Dalarnas, Gävleborgs, Västernorrlands, and southern Jämtlands until daylight. The storm has resulted in two fatalities and left approximately 40,000 households without power, with utility company Eon estimating that full power restoration may extend into next week.

Transportation across affected areas remains severely impacted due to extreme amounts of fallen trees. The Swedish Transport Administration reported hazardous conditions on many roads north of Hudiksvall, with several major bridges, including Sundsvallsbron and Högakustenbron, still closed. Train services between key routes such as Borlänge to Mora and Stockholm to Sundsvall have been cancelled with traffic normalization expected by Sunday noon. Mobile network disruptions in Jämtland and Härjedalen persist and may not resolve until Monday, compounding recovery challenges.

In localized effects, a family in Bergsjö remains trapped in their car on a neighbor's property due to fallen trees blocking safe passage, illustrating the ongoing danger in storm-affected zones. Meanwhile, the Vildriket animal park in Järvsö, Hälsingland, preemptively closed to visitors due to the storm. CEO Jens Larsson reported some trees were blown down but no major damage occurred. Staff closely monitored the safety of various animals including wolves, lynxes, and reindeer, preparing backup enclosures as a precaution but finding minimal impact overall.

The aftermath of Storm Johannes underscores the urgent need for continued caution, restoring critical infrastructure, and ensuring public safety as conditions gradually improve.