A powerful thunderstorm is currently affecting large parts of Sweden, with 25,000 lightning strikes recorded so far. SMHI warns of more strikes and heavy rain, potentially causing flooding and road hazards. The storm is expected to persist through the weekend, with new warnings issued for intense rainfall.
25,000 Lightning Strikes: Severe Storms to Continue Tonight
25,000 Lightning Strikes: Severe Storms to Continue Tonight
A powerful thunderstorm is currently hitting large parts of the country. So far, 25,000 lightning strikes have been recorded, with more expected.
"There will definitely be more during the afternoon and evening," says SMHI meteorologist Erik Höjgård-Olsen.
Warnings for torrential rain are frequent right now across large parts of the country. Götaland, Svealand, and southern Norrland are particularly affected by heavy showers, and SMHI warns of basement and well flooding as well as hydroplaning on roads.
According to the weather authority, a month's worth of rain will fall within the next 24 hours.
Alongside the rainstorm, there have been over 25,000 lightning strikes so far on Friday.
And more are expected.
"There will definitely be more during the afternoon and evening," says SMHI meteorologist Erik Höjgård-Olsen.
Continuing Through the Weekend
The broad cluster of thunder and rain stretches on Friday from eastern Skåne across the inland of Götaland and Svealand, past western Värmland and the Jämtland mountains up to the Norrland coast south of Skellefteå.
Over part of the area, the storm will largely remain over the weekend, although it will move in a northeasterly direction. Thunderstorms will continue to strike both Saturday and Sunday, according to Erik Höjgård-Olsen.
New Torrential Rain Warnings
Ahead of the weekend, SMHI has issued new yellow warnings for torrential rain, applicable on Saturday.
Along the southern and central Norrland coast, heavy rain will also fall on Saturday, but for most of Götaland and Svealand, the rain will dissipate.
New for Saturday is that SMHI also warns northern Gotland of torrential rain.
Wet Next Week as Well
"This looks to largely disappear after the weekend, but next week still looks unstable with new rain areas coming in from the south," says Erik Höjgård-Olsen.
The forecast is still somewhat uncertain, but even then, the rainstorm looks set to hit broadly.
"There are varying predictions on how much, but more rain is coming from the southeast—and it will affect large parts of the country."