Just in time for the Christmas rush, a snowstorm looks set to move in over Svealand and Norrland.
Strong gusts of wind and heavy snowfall are likely to seriously disrupt traffic at the end of the week.
– It will be difficult, says TV4’s meteorologist Ulrika Elvgren.
The hope for a white Christmas is very much alive across most of the country. But it comes with consequences.
In large parts of Svealand and up over Norrland, SMHI has issued weather warnings from Thursday.
– There may be large amounts of snow. Especially in Gävleborg county, where they have an orange weather warning from Thursday evening and during Friday. There can be up to 30 centimeters of snow, says Ulrika Elvgren, meteorologist at TV4.
E4 is affected
The storm risks causing power outages where there are overhead power lines. Traffic is also expected to be heavily affected.
– In addition, there are strong winds and E4 runs quite close to the coast there. So it seems to be quite affected, says Ulrika Elvgren.
And it is the wind that makes the road conditions extra difficult.
– When it’s drifting, it doesn’t matter that a plow truck just plowed away the snow. It still blows back, she says.
“Large traffic flow”
An approaching Christmas rush will further contribute to an unsafe traffic situation.
– A large flow of traffic in this storm is not good either. There are more people who are going to arrive on the same surface and who may not be able to keep the distance.
She is therefore positive that SMHI has issued the weather warnings in such good time.
– I think they have in mind that it is a big traffic weekend. That people have the opportunity to think about their situation and perhaps plan again, says Ulrika Elvgren.