Despite the cold winter, SMHI warns of grass fire risks in snow-free areas of southern Sweden on Tuesday. The dry grass from last year can easily ignite and spread in the windy weather. The agency urges caution with outdoor burning and machinery work.
Sweden recently experienced its first national ice day in two years, with sub-zero temperatures across the country on Sunday. According to SMHI, the continued cold weather is expected to lead to more such days early in the week, with local snow in places.
Amid the chill, SMHI has issued warnings for grass fires in snow-free areas of southwestern Götaland, including Skåne, Halland, western Småland, and all of Öland. The alert runs from Tuesday lunchtime until 5 PM. The risk stems mainly from dry, dead grass from last year, which is highly flammable during activities like burning brush piles or sparks from heavy machinery.
"It always feels a bit funny this time of year to start talking about fire risk," says meteorologist Emma Rosengren at SMHI. She highlights the high spread risk due to wind and sun, though spontaneous ignition is unlikely in the cold. "Be very careful with burning or working with large machines outdoors," SMHI urges in its message.
Particularly vulnerable spots include south-facing slopes, elevations where snow melts quickly, and edges along railways. The warning does not apply to snow-covered areas. David Helander reports from Sydsvenskan on the unexpected fire hazard in the winter landscape.
