Scandinavia: Frequent disruptions due to winter weather likely across Scandinavia through April 2022

Event

Extreme winter weather events, including heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures, fog, and strong winds, are likely to impact transport and utility services across the Scandinavian countries during the winter months through at least the end of April 2022. The affected areas include Demark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Airports in impacted regions may experience frequent short-notice disruptions, leading to cancellations, delays, and even a full ground stop. Affected airports may include:

Denmark

• Copenhagen Airport (CPH)

• Billund Airport (BLL)

• Aalborg Airport (AAL)

• Aarhus Airport (AAR)

• Vagar Airport (FAE)

Finland

• Helsinki Airport (HEL)

• Oulu Airport (OUL)

• Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)

• Turku Airport (TKU)

• Vaasa Airport (VAA)

• Tampere Airport (TMP)

Iceland

• Keflavik Airport (KEF)

• Reykjavik Airport (RKV)

Norway

• Oslo Airport (OSL)

• Bergen Airport (BGO)

• Trondheim Airport (TRD)

Sweden

• Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)

• Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT)

• Stockholm Bromma Airport (BMA)

• Stockholm Skavasta Airport (NYO)

• Malmo Airport (MMX)

• Stockholm Vasteras Airport (VST)

Inclement weather can also lead to frequent blockages on arterial roads in the region. The scarcity of alternative routes means that significant transport disruptions could occur at times. Avalanches, particularly in mountainous areas such as the Scandinavian Mountains, can lead to protracted road blockages. While authorities are experienced in minimizing the potential impact, roads in remote and mountainous regions could be disrupted more frequently and for extended periods due to their relative inaccessibility. Extreme temperatures may also increase the potential for vehicle breakdowns. Railways can experience disruptions, leading to the cancellation of services and long delays.

The cold weather can lead to utility disruptions where demand exceeds the capacity of local power supplies, and heavy snow or strong winds can damage utility infrastructure. Although commonly affected areas are well equipped to deal with such problems, power outages can last for extended periods, particularly in remote locations.

Advice

Monitor local media for updated weather information. Verify road conditions before driving in areas where heavy snowfall is forecast. Allow extra time to reach destinations in these areas and carry an emergency kit and warm clothes if driving is necessary, especially on secondary or rural routes that could become impassable. Plan accordingly for delivery delays if routing shipments by truck through the affected area. Confirm flights. Charge battery-powered devices in the case of prolonged electricity outages.

Resources

MeteoAlarm
Danish Meteorological Institute (Danish)
Finnish Meteorological Institute (Finnish)
Icelandic Meteorological Office (Icelandic)
Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Norwegian)
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (Swedish)