Nordic countries Finland and Sweden are facing a cold wave, with both countries recording their lowest temperatures of the winter, dropping to -40 degrees Celsius. The cold weather and heavy snowfall are disrupting local transportation. On the same day, 10 regions in France issued warnings for heavy rain and flooding, with most of them located along the coastline.
The French meteorological agency has stated that “persistent” rainfall in the coastal departments of Manche, Atlantic Loire, Vendée, Morbihan, Finistère, the northern and English Channel regions, as well as the inland departments of Orne, Mayenne, and Sarthe, will lead to flooding. Authorities have issued warnings, stating that this will result in rising water levels.
In these areas at risk of flooding, authorities have issued an “orange alert,” the second-highest danger level, to increase vigilance. Residents in these regions are advised to stay away from rivers, lakes, and streams.
Meanwhile, in the Nordic countries, several nations are experiencing a cold wave. According to Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT, the small village of Nikkaluokta, inhabited by the indigenous Sami people in northern Sweden, recorded a temperature of -41.6 degrees Celsius on the 2nd. SVT meteorologists stated, “This is the coldest temperature so far this winter, and the northern region will continue to experience quite cold weather.”
Swedish train operators reported severe problems with railway traffic in the north due to the cold wave. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute reported temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius at multiple locations in northern Sweden and issued snow and strong wind warnings for central and southern Sweden.
In neighboring Finland, the town of Ylivieska in the northwest set a winter record with a temperature of -37.8 degrees Celsius on the 2nd. Forecasters stated that temperatures in some areas of the country will drop below -40 degrees Celsius this week. The temperature in the capital, Helsinki, is expected to hover between -15 and -20 degrees Celsius.
In the southern Norwegian town of Ålendal, officials announced the closure of schools on the 3rd as accumulated snow on sidewalks could not be cleared in time. A major highway in southern Norway was closed due to weather conditions, and ferry services were temporarily suspended. Danish officials also reported cancellations of ferry routes, including ferries from southern Norway to Denmark.
