Sweden: Authorities maintaining flood warnings across much of Skane County as of Jan. 26

Flood warnings are being maintained across parts of Skane County in far southern Sweden as of Jan. 26 due to rising lakes, rivers, and other water bodies following a combination of rainfall and snowmelt. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) has issued the following flood alerts across the affected area until further notice:

• Red flood warnings (the highest level on a three-tier scale): For the Kavlinglean River downstream of Lake Vombsjon.

• Orange flood warnings: For the Kavlinglean River from Lake Vombsjon to Kavlinge.

• Yellow high water discharge warnings: Across much of Skane County with the exception of southern, far northern, far eastern, and far western areas.

Yellow wind and high sea warnings have been issued across the northwestern coast of Skane and the southwestern coast of Halland counties. Authorities will likely issue new alerts or update/rescind existing advisories as weather conditions change over the coming days.

Flooding has been reported in parts of the affected area over recent days. Flooding has impacted several roads across Skane County, including a section of the E22 highway, and around 50 homes in Eslov municipality are being threatened by floodwaters. Schools in Horby have been closed due to flooding.

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.

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.