Stay inside as dangerous stormy weather lashes northern Europe, officials say. 2 people have died

Norwegian officials issued warnings on Tuesday to brace for “extremely heavy rainfall” following the impact of Storm Hans, which resulted in two fatalities and widespread destruction across northern Europe, including the tearing of roofs and disruption of daily life.

The region continued to face strong winds and rain, leading to a host of problems in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia. These included the cancellation of ferries, flight delays, flooded roads and streets, uprooted trees, injuries from falling branches, and power outages that left thousands without electricity.

In the capital city of Oslo, authorities encouraged people to work remotely. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate issued warnings about “extremely heavy rainfall” in the southern parts of the country and advised against unnecessary travel.

The situation was described as serious, with the potential for widespread consequences including extensive flooding, erosion, and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

In Finland, the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District urged individuals to carefully consider the necessity of going out to sea. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued a red warning for central Sweden, indicating the risk of extreme rainfall leading to high water flow in streams and ditches.

Floods and landslides led to the closure of numerous roads in southern Norway and Sweden, resulting in evacuations, including at least 119 people evacuated by Tuesday noon. There were sporadic reports of helicopters being used to rescue people from the affected regions.

The Meteorological Institute of Denmark reported waves as high as 26 feet, and some beach houses were washed into the North Sea.

On Monday, tragedies included the death of a 50-year-old woman in Lithuania due to falling trees near Latvia’s border and a fatal incident in Latvia near the Belarus border when a falling tree killed a man. There were also reports of a partial train derailment in central Sweden due to washed-away embankments, resulting in minor injuries.

In Estonia, almost 10,000 people were left without electricity on Tuesday morning.

Extreme weather warnings remained at the highest level in southern Norway, with the potential for heavy rain, mudslides, and flash floods. Authorities even sent warnings to tourists in several languages, including English.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre referred to the situation as “very serious,” warning that the destruction, flooding, and adverse conditions were likely to persist for at least another day.

Meteorologists predicted rain over southern Norway until Wednesday, and the police advised residents to prepare for possible road closures and temporary loss of utilities like electricity, phone, and internet.

In the Swedish town of Are, home to a ski resort, flooding was so severe that the Susaback river overflowed its banks, inundating much of the town center, situated more than 330 miles from Stockholm.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Storm Hans

More about Storm Hans

• Norwegian Meteorological Institute
• Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute
• Baltic News Service
• Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper
• Denmark’s Meteorological Institute