Sweden is experiencing severe rainstorms, leading to significant flooding and traffic disruptions, particularly in Stockholm and Gotland. An orange warning for heavy rain has been issued for southern Norrland, with up to 100 millimeters expected in a day. The public is advised to exercise caution as the weather continues to impact transportation and infrastructure.
Severe Rainstorms Cause Flooding and Traffic Chaos in Sweden
Severe Rainstorms Cause Flooding and Traffic Chaos in Sweden
The storm "Karl-Heinz" has arrived, bringing heavy rain that has caused multiple floods on the E4 and other roads in the Stockholm area. On Gotland, several alerts for water damage have been reported overnight. The Swedish Transport Administration urges drivers to exercise caution.
– You need to think practically, as driving into flooded areas can suddenly become a meter deep, says Katarina Wolffram, press communicator.
Follow our live reporting here.
An orange warning for heavy rain has been issued for large parts of southern Norrland's coastal region. Up to 100 millimeters of rain is expected during Tuesday. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) reports that the rain will be particularly intense over Gävleborg and Västernorrland counties.
The orange warning is surrounded by yellow warnings for heavy rain, affecting areas including Stockholm, Mälardalen, Gotland, and Umeå.
On Tuesday morning, SMHI issued another yellow warning for rain affecting southern Dalarna and northern Östergötland.
A Month and a Half's Rain in a Day
Heavy rain is already falling along the east coast, and residents in southern Norrland can expect it to continue.
– It will rain heavily throughout the day. The rain will move away by tomorrow morning, says Josefine Qvarnesjö-Bergstedt, meteorologist at Stormgeo.
In some areas, up to 100 millimeters of precipitation is expected in southern Norrland – equivalent to almost a month and a half's rain in a single day.
– Normally, 60-70 millimeters of rain falls in July in that area, says Qvarnesjö-Bergstedt.
Traffic Disruptions in Stockholm
Early Tuesday morning, the rain caused problems in Stockholm's public transport, including tram line 7 between T-centralen and Djurgården, which was completely halted due to the rain.
There were also disruptions on the red subway line towards Norsborg after trees fell onto the tracks.
– We expect traffic problems today due to the large volumes of water, but it's hard to predict where, says Carl-Henrik Elssberg, press officer at SL.
Several roads were flooded in the morning, causing traffic issues on the E4. By 9 AM, the Swedish Transport Administration had removed the earlier warnings.
A flood in the Söderledstunnel, at the Hornsgatan entrance, still causes significant problems, according to the Swedish Transport Administration's website.
Drivers are advised to be more cautious than usual.
– In areas with a lot of water, you shouldn't drive because you don't know how deep it is. You need to think practically, as driving into flooded areas can suddenly become a meter deep, says press communicator Katarina Wolffram.
Flooding Alerts
The rain hit Gotland overnight, leading to several flood alerts. In Visby, a sewer blockage has affected several houses.
– The municipality's flushing vehicles are there to clear the blockages to prevent further water rise, says the rescue service's operations manager.
On a single street in Klintehamn on Gotland, three alerts for water damage to houses have been reported, writes Helagotland. The island's rescue service reports having had some work, but not as much as feared.
– But it may still be that people haven't woken up yet and there are more water damages we don't know about, says the rescue service's operations manager.
Trees have also fallen in several places around the island, which can cause traffic issues.
"No High Pressure in Sight"
It will remain wet throughout the day before the low pressure weakens by Wednesday. However, the recent warm, dry weather seems to be a thing of the past.
SMHI reports that no high pressure is in sight, and the beginning of next week also looks to be dominated by low pressure.