The heavy snowfall is causing traffic problems and a number of train departures are being cancelled on Monday. This includes all of SJ's regional trains between Stockholm and Uppsala.
The low pressure area in southern Sweden continues to rage with unabated force and some areas are currently experiencing intense storms with heavy snowfall.
”"If you are going to go out into traffic, you should be careful," says Petter Lind, meteorologist on duty at SMHI.
Snowfall warnings have been issued primarily for the east coast, the eastern parts of Götaland and Svealand, but also Skåne, west of Lake Vänern and Dalsland, where it is snowing intensely in some places.
”"We also have an orange warning for parts of Gotland and also Stockholm County, and that is also where we expect the most intense storms," says Petter Lind.
Late Sunday evening, Stockholm experienced heavy snowfall and thunderstorms, an unusual phenomenon.
”"It does happen, but it is most common during other seasons, such as summer when there is heavy rain in conjunction with thunderstorms," says Petter Lind.
Petter Lind explains that it is about the process that generates the precipitation. The heavy hailstorms that occur more in the summer with heavy rainfall have now been observed out at sea, but in the form of heavy snowfall.
”"It is then convection in the atmosphere that causes the air to move vertically so that there is a lifting of the air. Then there can be a strong, large vertical extension that causes thunderstorms to form and it also occurs in winter."”
”"Northern Gotland and the Baltic Sea have also had some discharges, mostly over sea and when they reach land they are attenuated, but Stockholm is close to the coast," explains Petter Lind.
After SMHI issued an orange warning for snowfall in the area around Stockholm and Uppsala, all train operators had a meeting with the Swedish Transport Administration. Since the Swedish Transport Administration asked the operators to reduce traffic, SJ has chosen to cancel all regional departures between Stockholm and Uppsala.
”"We have chosen to do this to reduce the number of trains running on the route," Leila Fogelholm at SJ's press office told TT earlier in the evening.
To solve the problem, there is a ticket collaboration with other companies, where anyone who has purchased a ticket with SJ can travel with Mälartåg or SL on the route between Uppsala and Stockholm.
”"If you have bought a ticket, you can reschedule or cancel or travel on other trains. Our express trains and other lines in the country will operate as usual. Then you always have to see how the weather affects traffic."”
The trains affected are those that run from 5 a.m. on Monday and the rest of the day.
SJ cannot say whether more trains will be cancelled during the week.
SJ is also canceling some departures on the Stockholm-Västerås route and the Gävle-Linköping route. Customers who have booked a ticket on the affected departures will also be able to rebook or cancel their ticket there.
This is in addition to the heavy snowfall and mild temperatures that are making it difficult for trains to run.
”"The snowfall causes problems, but if it's close to zero, there will be heavy snow that makes it difficult for the trains to run," says Petter Lind.
The storm is expected to continue throughout Monday, but on Tuesday it looks like the precipitation will calm down a bit and move further north.
”"They are currently having very calm weather in Norrland, cold but significantly calmer with a high pressure ridge," says Petter Lind.
New fronts then come in from the west and bring milder temperatures.
”"There will be a lot of snow and slippery conditions until then, so take it easy in the morning traffic," advises Petter Lind.
SL will also cancel traffic on Monday.
The lines affected are lines 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 48, and reduced traffic will be in place as long as the orange warning remains in place, SL states.
Long-distance train traffic, Stockholm-Arlanda trains and other trains will also be affected.
Source: TT-DI.SE
