Headline: Icy Conditions: Expect Snow and Glazed Roads Across Eastern Norway
Subhead: Norwegian roads agency urges caution as temperatures plummet and road salinity struggles against severe cold
As the clock struck seven on Thursday morning, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) was already inundated with reports of icy roads across Eastern Norway, particularly on major routes leading into Oslo.
"Conditions are tricky, especially on the north-bound highways," warned Vegard Hornes Halvorsen, traffic operator at Vegtrafikksentralen east, in an interview with Dagbladet. "I urge drivers to proceed with utmost caution."
Ice and Snow Widespread
Vegvesenet, via its X account, has reported a plethora of minor and major traffic incidents, including cars struggling on slippery roads. One notable incident saw a tractor-trailer overturn near Karihaugen on E6, leading to lengthy traffic jams.
E16 and Riksvei 4 on Hadeland remain closed due to a Wednesday incident, with Røstetunnelen between Roa and Grua still impassable.
While roads have been salted overnight, the extreme cold prevents the salt from having its desired effect.
"We need help from traffic to crush and compact the salt," added Halvorsen.
Chilling Temperatures
Meteorologists predict a further drop in temperatures across Eastern Norway, with localized lows potentially reaching -8 to -10°C. Temperatures may dip even lower inland.
After initial heavy snowfall, the Meteorological Institute now forecasts clear weather for much of Eastern Norway, starting Friday. However, scattered snow showers are still possible in Oslo on Thursday, while southern regions may experience snowstorms.
North of Stadt and Dovre, and particularly in Nordland, snowstorms pose a risk.
