Freak snowfall in Sweden

A cold snap has caused confusion in Sweden, as heavy snow fell on northern parts of the country on Saturday. According to reports in The Local, weather forecasts predict the freak storm will bring the season’s last snow.

Residents, geared up for spring, were not expecting the large amount of snow, which caused large-scale power cuts.

Evelyn Nykvist in Sorskog told a local news agency: “I am just heading out to shovel the snow, it’s feels a little tough. I measured this morning and 24 centimetres of snow had fallen during the morning.”

The storm affected most of Dalarna as well as inner Halsingland, Harjedalen, Jamtland and the Are ski resorts.

The meteorological agency of Sweden, SMHI reported 14 to 15 centimetres of snowfall in Leksand, Malung and Rattvik in Dalarna.

Sten Laurin, a meteorologist for SMHI said: “It has snowed quite a lot, as far south as parts of Varmland. Further south than that the snow turns into slush.”

Residents in the affected areas were out on the streets on their bicycles the day before the storm and were left scrambling to locate their cold weather clothes the day after the unexpected snowfall.

Several cars were unable to handle the winter driving conditions in the Falun-Borlange area, most likely a result of having already removed their winter tyres.