Oslo Airport has halted all flights due to severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and strong winds impacting the Norwegian capital, eastern Norway, and parts of Sweden.
The decision to suspend flights, made at approximately 12:35 pm local time on Wednesday, was taken by airport operator Avinor for safety reasons. The intense snowfall and wind had obscured the runway lights, making it unsafe for landing and departing aircraft.
Avinor’s communications manager, Cathrine Framholt, noted that while flights were expected to resume around 2:30 pm, this timeline might be revised based on changing conditions. She emphasized that such a suspension is unusual due to the extreme nature of the weather.
Severe weather causes chaos in Scandinavia, with public transport and roads affected.The airport itself remained open to passengers, though Avinor’s website was experiencing technical difficulties. In the greater Oslo area, heavy snowfall disrupted public transport, leading to the suspension of train services in eastern Norway, significant delays on the Oslo subway, and the cancellation of bus services.
In Sweden, the snowstorm and gale-force winds caused considerable disruption, particularly in western regions and Skåne. Authorities issued warnings about hazardous road conditions and advised against unnecessary travel. The Swedish Transport Administration urged motorists to reconsider their plans.
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued nine snow warnings, predicting heavy snow and wind for Stockholm and Uppland, with up to 30 cm of snow expected in Norrland by Wednesday evening.
Conditions in Sweden are expected to improve by Thursday, but extreme cold with temperatures dropping to -20°C is anticipated for the weekend.