SMHI has issued an orange warning for Österlen and yellow for the rest of Skåne ahead of Thursday's snowfall. Trafikverket has mobilized extra resources like tracked vehicles and snowplows to manage the risks. The authority urges motorists to stay home if possible.
A severe snowstorm is moving into Skåne on Thursday, with snowfall expected to start around 14:00 from Poland and Germany. SMHI warns of orange level on Österlen and yellow for the rest of the region, with risks of snowdrifts and traffic issues. The snow is set to ease only by Friday afternoon, and later snow mixed with rain could make roads slippery.
Trafikverket has taken extensive measures. Press communicator Katarina Wolffram states: “We have prepared for this.” Extra tracked vehicles have been sent from Nässjö to Brösarp, while heavy wreckers are positioned in Linderöd, Ystad, and Glumslöv from 18:00. Wheel loaders are at Hallandsås, and snow removal contractors have staff on standby for shifts.
“The preparedness is more than we have on a normal weekday,” says Wolffram. Train services are affected: the Ystad-Simrishamn line is closed until Friday lunchtime. In the evening, “glashalt” conditions on E6 are reported with several accidents.
Trafikverket advises checking their website's road map for updates, noting that general road conditions are updated morning and evening. “We can't force anyone to stay home. But the fewer people out, the easier it is for those doing the snowplowing,” Wolffram says. “For us, it's easiest if people stay home.”
Both SMHI and Danish DMI warn of the storm, worsened by a low-pressure system south of Ireland interacting with high pressure near Moscow.
