Heavy Snowfall Alert Expanded for Eastern Norway; Power Outages and Traffic Chaos
Monday afternoon saw the Norwegian Meteorological Institute expand its warning for substantial snowfall, affecting Eastern Norway. Initially set to last until midday on Tuesday, the warning has now been extended until 10 PM the same day, indicating that the snowstorm isn’t abating anytime soon. Meanwhile, yellow warnings remain in effect for parts of Eastern Norway and southern parts of Western Norway, with heavy snowfall also impacting mountain regions in southern Norway and parts of Møre og Romsdal.
Major Fjelloverganger Closed; Kolonnekjøring Implemented
The snowstorm has led to the closure of several major mountain passes and the implementation of Kolonnekjøring ( convoys) in multiple areas. All major mountain passes in southern Norway are either closed or operating with convoy systems. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration urges all who plan to travel on Monday or Tuesday to check for updates via 175.no or the Vegvesen Trafikk app.
"Keep Track of Schnefall Updates Before Hitting the Road"
Agder: 6,000 Homes Without Power
Agder has experienced numerous power outages Monday, with as many as 6,000 homes affected at peak times. The cause of the outages is not yet known, but the region has seen heavy snowfall. The largest outages occurred in Kvinesdal, Konsmo, Mandal, and Kristiansand, according to Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).
Lars Fredheim,Press spokesperson for Agder Energi, told NRK, "We are receiving one report at a time… If the number of errors increases to the point where it becomes challenging to dispatch technicians, they will have to prioritize and complete one task before moving on to the next. But I haven’t heard that’s the case yet."
- Around 18:00, approximately 5,700 homes in Agder and Buskerud remained without power, according to Glitre Energi’s outage overview.*
"Not Enough Technicians to Assist All"; Traffic Chaos on Western Norway
Heavy snowfall has also caused significant issues on Western Norway’s roads. In Bergen, a car carrying two people was struck by an avalanche in Torborg Nedreaas Gate, Dokken. Although both passengers were unharmed, the incident caused major traffic delays and congestion in the area. Additionally, a building collapsed onto Riksveg 13 between Odda and Kinsarvik, briefly closing the road.
Due to an overwhelming number of traffic-related reports, the South-West Police District could not assist everyone. Oper relaxation leader Steinar Knudsen advised, "We urge everyone to consider the necessity of their journey and choose the route to their destination wisely."
By 16:00, Kolumbus, the public transport operator, suspended all Nord-Jæren bus services due to the snowstorm, with no immediate plans for resumption. Jon Nordmark, regional director of Connect Bus, stated, "It’s not safe to drive right now. Unfortunately, safety comes first."
Oslo’s Public Transportation Affected; Color Line Cancels sailings
Oslo’s public transportation has been impacted, with several T-bane ( subway) services suspended through Tuesday due to heavy snow. The storm has also affected ferry travel, with Color Line canceling planned sailings between Hirtshals and Larvik on Tuesday and rescheduling two sailings between Hirtshals and Kristiansand.
