Scandinavia: Authorities maintain flood warnings across parts of northern Finland, Norway, and northern Sweden as of May 23 /update 1

Event

Flood warnings are being maintained across parts of northern Finland, Norway, and northern Sweden as of May 23. The affected area includes parts of Lapland County in Finland, Agder, Innlandet, Troms og Finnmark, Torndelag, Vestfold og Telemark, and Viken counties in Norway, and Norrbotten County in Sweden. A combination of heavy precipitation and snowmelt is causing water levels to rise in lakes, rivers, and other water bodies.

As of May 23, the Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued the following flood warnings in parts of Lapland County:

• Orange flood warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): Kittila, Pello, Tornio, and Ylitornio municipalities.

• Yellow flood warnings: Kolari, Muonio, and Sodankyla municipalities.

The Norweigan Meteorological Institute has issued orange flood warnings for parts of Innlandet, Troms og Finnmark, and Viken counties and yellow flood warnings for parts of Agder, Innlandet, Troms og Finnmark, Torndelag, Vestfold og Telemark, and Viken counties. Yellow landslide and debris flow warnings have also been issued across parts of the affected counties. Orange and yellow avalanche warnings are in place for parts of Torms og Finnmark County and the Jotunheimen mountains in Innlandet and Vestland counties due to wet snow.

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) has issued red flood warnings (the highest level on a three-tier scale) for parts of the lower Torne River in Norrbotten County through May 26. Yellow flood warnings have been issued for parts of the lower Muonio and lower Kalix rivers, also in Norrbotten County.

Authorities will likely issue new alerts or update/rescind existing advisories as weather conditions change over the coming days.

Hazardous Conditions
Sustained heavy rainfall and further snowmelt could trigger flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are possible in hilly or mountainous areas, especially where the soil has become saturated by heavy rainfall.

Authorities could issue mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone communities over the coming days. Disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services are possible where significant flooding or landslides impact utility networks.

Transport
Floodwaters and debris flows may render some bridges, rail networks, or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters.

Localized business disruptions may occur in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, possible evacuations, and some employees' inability to reach work sites.

Advice

Monitor local media for weather updates and related advisories. Confirm all transport reservations and business appointments before travel. Make allowances for localized travel delays and potential supply chain disruptions where flooding has been forecast. Do not drive on flooded roads. Charge battery-powered devices in the case of prolonged electricity outages.

Resources

Finnish Meteorological Institute
Norweigan Meteorological Institute
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)