STOCKHOLM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) — A large part of Sweden was paralyzed on Monday after heavy snowfall over the weekend, with the capital Stockholm particularly affected.
Motorists, some of whom had not yet switched to winter tires, struggled due to wet and heavy snow on the roads, and several train departures were canceled while flights were delayed, local media reported.
On Sunday, Sweden’s Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued yellow and orange warnings for southern Sweden due to predicted dangers in the wake of the snowfall, and people were also urged to work from home on Monday if possible.
Schools in the southwestern city of Trollhättan decided to offer distance learning for almost 3,000 high school students, as all bus routes were cancelled.
The snow also affected power lines with disturbances from various areas. In the Kalmar region, approximately 30 miles south of the capital, the power company E.ON deployed track cars and helicopters to fix power lines, reported Sveriges Television (SVT).
With almost a quarter of the country’s population, the Stockholm region was the most affected.
About 1,600 railway switches in and around the capital were jammed by 30-40 centimeters of wet snow and had to be cleared, a spokesperson for the Swedish Transport Administration told SVT.
The blocked railways in the Stockholm region, which is a hub that connects the north and south of the country, had a cut in rail traffic in other regions.
Roads were also blocked by snow, fallen trees and branches as well as non-moving vehicles, Dagens Nyheter (DN) reported.
– We prioritize roads where public transport, the emergency services and important deliveries need clear roads, says Malinda Flodman, spokesperson at the municipal road and traffic department, to DN.
She also said that about ten snow removal vehicles had broken down under the heavy load and that a few vehicles were also damaged by lightning early Monday.
As snow removal work was still ongoing at lunchtime on Monday, SMHI predicted that the snowfall in southern Sweden would continue throughout the day.