Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

Multiple mountain passes in Norway closed on New Year’s Eve

A number of mountain passes in Norway are closed on New Year's Eve. The police are warning drivers to watch out for difficult driving conditions in many places in the country.

Published: 31 December 2022 11:55 CET
Mountain pass
Several mountain passes in Norway are closed, and police advise drivers to be cautious due to challenging driving conditions. Photo by Tobias Tullius / Unsplash

The driving conditions are particularly challenging when it comes to mountain passes.

“It can be rough when it comes to the mountain passes. Consider whether you have to go out for a drive. And if you have to, then bring some provisions in the car and fill the tank,” road traffic operator Erland Tretteskog at Vegtrafikksentralen told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).

In Rogaland, a small storm has been reported. Several ferry departures were delayed or cancelled as a result of the storm.

A significant risk of avalanches is also expected in large parts of the country.

“In summary, things will calm down a bit in southern Norway. There will be showers and wind further north. There will also be bad weather in Møre og Romsdal and Trøndelag,” on-duty meteorologist Dina Stabell told NRK.

Freezing rain

The Eastern Police District warned motorists to watch out for freezing rain and slippery roads.

“We ask all road users to drive carefully. There are reports of very slippery roads in places with freezing rain, especially in the Follo area,” the police noted on Twitter.

On Friday evening, two buses and seven cars were involved in a collision on national highway 7 near Bromma in Nesbyen in Hallingdal.

No one was seriously injured in the incident, which happened at 8 pm. The road was opened on Saturday morning.

Closed mountain passes

On Saturday morning, the following mountain passes are closed, according to Vegtrafikksentralen:

* Rv13 Vikafjellet.
* E134 Haukelifjell.
* Rv7 Hardangervidda.
* Fv50 Aurland-Hol.
* Fv13 Gaularfjellet.
* E6 Saltfjellet
* E69 Skipsfjordhøyda-Skarsvåg i Nordkapp
* E69 Skarsvåg-Nordkapp
* Fv8046 Skarsvåg i Nordkapp
* Fv98 Ifjordfjellet
* Fv888 Bekkarfjord-Hopseidet
* Fv51 Valdresflya-Fagernes, stengt Garli-Bygdin
* Fv53 Tyin-Årdal
* Fv27 Venabygdsfjellet
* Fv51 Garli i Øystre Slinde, Innlandet
* Rv52 Hemsedal: Styrt trafikkavvikling

You can find a complete overview of the status of all the mountain crossings here.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

WEATHER

Norway braces for travel disruption as weather warning issued

Journeys in parts of Norway will likely be affected by heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, with a crisis staff being established in Innlandet County to deal with the orange weather warning.

Published: 9 September 2024 10:32 CEST
Norway braces for travel disruption as weather warning issued

Meteorologists have forecast 60-80 millimetres of rain in parts of Norway from Monday afternoon.

An orange weather warning, which could be upgraded to red on Monday, has also been issued in Innlandet County and Trøndelag. Below you can see the current forecast.

Orange alerts are issued when serious weather situations may occur, and the public is advised to “be prepared.” They are issued when forecasters expect extensive consequences.

READ ALSO: What Norway’s weather alerts actually mean

The state administrator in Innlandet County has set up a crisis staff for Monday and Tuesday. State administrator Knut Storberget told public broadcaster NRK there was a risk that roads and railways would be closed.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has said it was preparing for the effects of heavy rain on the road network.

In addition to potential travel disruption, the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) has issued an orange warning for landslides and flooding.

“The water flow will increase rapidly in small and medium-sized rivers from Monday evening. This can lead to extensive flooding, erosion, and flood damage in exposed locations. The reason is that a lot of rain is expected, locally up to 80 millimetres in one day. From Tuesday, the water flow will also increase in larger rivers,” the NVE said in its warning.

SHOW COMMENTS