Extreme weather event Amy - not advisable to travel on roads in parts of Southern Norway
Very strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected. In some areas, it will not be advisable to travel on the roads. There may be snowfall in the mountains.
The wind may cause trees to fall in lowland areas and there may be drifting snow in the mountains. The precipitation may lead to landslides and flood slides. Roads may be closed and ferry services cancelled. The warning is in effect from Friday evening until Saturday afternoon.
Roads and bridges may be closed
The storm will affect all of Southern Norway. The strongest winds (red warning) will hit the coast of Skagerrak. The heaviest precipitation (red warning) will hit parts of Vestfold and Telemark.
Due to the wind, many roads may be closed because of trees or other objects in the road. Many journeys may take significantly longer than expected. Bridges and exposed road sections may be closed.
In some areas, driving conditions will be difficult due to surface water and the risk of aquaplaning. There is a high risk of road closures. In some places, road connections may be temporarily lost. Be prepared for your journey to take longer than usual.
Risk of snow in the mountains
There will also be strong winds in the mountains in southern Norway, and there may be snowfall. For those planning to cross the mountains, it is important to be well prepared.
"People need to be prepared for the incoming weather. If you are crossing the mountains, it is important to equip your vehicle properly. Drive with winter tyres, bring food and warm clothing, and make sure your car is fully charged or has enough fuel”, urges Svenn Egil Finden, Director of Operations and Maintenance Western Norway in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA).
“If snow does fall, our contractors are already prepared for winter and are ready with both personnel and machinery to clear the mountain passes this weekend if necessary”, he adds.
The autumn break is a period of increased traffic on many roads, especially towards mountain areas and popular holiday home municipalities.
Do you need to travel?
“Carefully consider whether your journey should and can be carried out”, says Svenn Egil Finden of the NPRA.
He urges people to keep an eye on the weather forecast and the alerts at vegvesen.no/trafikk or use the app Vegvesen Trafikk (NPRA Traffic) for a full overview of the situation on the roads.