Warnings for snowfall, strong winds and icy conditions are issued in northern Sweden. In parts of the mountain world, the danger of avalanches is also significant.
But this week the weather changes throughout the country when the winter weather turns to plus degrees and sleet.
It doesn’t look great for the snow cover, says Viktor Bergman, meteorologist at SMHI.
However, the week starts with stormy winter weather in the northern parts of the country.
SMHI has issued orange warnings for snow and wind for the Västerbottensfjällen and large parts of the Norrbottensfjällen. In addition, there is a yellow warning for the northern Jämtlandsfjällen. The warnings apply from Monday morning into Tuesday.
It will be really windy and it’s not something you should venture into, says Bergman.
Yellow warnings are also issued because freezing rain can cause sudden ice slippage in several places in Västernorrland county, Jämtland county, Västerbotten county and part of the Norrbotten coast during Monday.
Dangerous avalanche condition
In the western Vindelfjällen and southern Lapland mountains, the danger of avalanches is significant. This means dangerous conditions and a third on the five-point risk scale.
Fresh snow, strong winds and temperature changes make snow flakes in the area very weak and unreliable, warns the Environmental Protection Agency’s website Avalanche forecasts.
The avalanche warnings are currently valid until 6pm on Monday.
At the same time, the weather change picks up speed when a deep low pressure over the Norwegian Sea brings with it mild weather and clouds – initially over the southern half of Sweden.
“Slippery Again”
The plus degrees then advance northwards during Tuesday and in the middle of the day only northern Norrland has some minus degrees left, according to SMHI.
Then it looks temporarily to clear up and freeze during the night to Wednesday. Then it can get slippery again and that also applies in the south, says Bergman.
The week continues with the mild air lingering and even reaching the northernmost parts of the country.
Thursday can be really mild, with up to 8-9 plus degrees in the south.
Is winter coming back?
The forecast for the weekend is a bit more uncertain, but most indications are that it will continue to be mild. Right now, there is no clear return to winter weather.
Facts: Weather warnings
SMHI has three levels of weather warnings:
Yellow warning: Consequences for society, some risks to the public.
Orange warning: Serious consequences for society, danger to the public.
Red Alert: Very serious consequences for society, great danger to the public.
Facts: Avalanche scale
Avalanche danger is divided into a five-point scale:
1. Little danger. Conditions are safe in general. The snow can be unstable in some places. Avalanches unlikely.
2. Moderate danger. Hazardous conditions in parts of the terrain. It is possible for humans to trigger avalanches, but spontaneous avalanches are unlikely.
3. Significant danger. Hazardous conditions. Human-triggered avalanches are likely, and spontaneous avalanches are possible.
4. Great danger. Very dangerous conditions. Very likely with spontaneous avalanches and people triggering avalanches.
5. Very great danger. Human-triggered and spontaneous avalanches certainly occur.
Source: Lavinprognoser.se