Heatwave alerts as temperatures set to rise in Sweden

A heatwave is set to engulf large parts of Sweden this week, from Jönköping in the south to Örnsköldsvik in the north-east. 

Temperatures of 25-30C in the eastern half of that region are expected.

Swedish weather agency SMHI has issued a warning of high temperatures, saying the heatwave could cause “increased stress on the body. Risk highest for those with underlying health problems.” 

The heatwave is currently expected to stick around until Friday, a meteorologist told the TT newswire.

Swedish vocabulary: a heatwave – en värmebölja

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Sweden expected to keep interest rate unchanged for now

The Swedish Riksbank is set to make its next announcement on the country’s key interest rate, the so-called policy rate, on Thursday.

But no one really expects any other decisions than to leave it unchanged for now. 

Sweden’s inflation rate fell in May, but even before these figures were announced, Riksbank governor Erik Thedéen made it clear that the bank is not planning on lowering interest rates, stating there would need to be “very large changes” to even begin to discuss it in June.

The Riksbank has previously said it plans to lower the interest rate twice this year, but only after the summer.

This means the next interest rate cut could come in August or September.

Swedish vocabulary: to expect – att förvänta sig

Fewer incidents than expected on Midsummer Eve

Midsummer’s Eve, normally one of the days when emergency services get the most phone calls, was quieter than expected.

By midnight on Friday, SOS Alarm received around 11,500 calls to Sweden’s emergency number 112.

“It was pretty much like a normal Friday or Saturday evening,” SOS Alarm spokesperson Staffan Ekengren told TT.

These figures come with two caveats. Firstly, that Midsummer Eve celebrations continue well into the night, and the early hours of Saturday are not included. But Ekengren said that their impression remained that even the peak between midnight and 2am had been relatively quiet.

“We’ve had traditional Midsummer calls: drunkenness, arguments, traffic accidents during primarily the daytime hours, and drowning incidents. The overall feeling is still that it’s been calmer than we’re used to, despite the weather being good,” said Ekengren.

The second caveat is that Sunday, a busy day for post-Midsummer traffic, is also not included in the figures.

Swedish vocabulary: a caveat – en brasklapp

Sweden’s most bizarre tourist attraction for sale

One of Sweden’s most bizarre tourist attractions is again up for sale, for 40 million kronor, reports Upsala Nya Tidning.

Anyone who has driven between Uppsala and Gävle is bound to have noticed the Dragon Gate: a tall, grey Chinese-style building looming over the E4 motorway at Älvkarleby. It looks as misplaced as a red Swedish cottage would in China, but even more eye-catchingly imposing.

The Dragon Gate saga began in 2004, when Chinese billionaire Jingchun Li bought the former Hotel Älvkarlen with the aim of turning it into a hotspot “where east meets west”.  It features among other things an army of 200 replica terracotta soldiers and a huge Guanyin statue.

But the project has faced a series of problems over the years, including delayed openings, and confrontations with Swedish authorities on several occasions over building regulations and working conditions for staff. It has changed owners several times.

Swedish vocabulary: for sale – till försäljning