·

Extremely low air pressure brings down air traffic over northern Norway

low-pressure-air-traffic-norway-february-2020

Air pressure over northern Norway dropped below 940 hPa on February 10, 2020, as Storm Ciara impacted much of northern Europe, leading to the cancelation of air traffic over the region for the first time ever due to low pressure. It also resulted in high water levels along the Norwegian coast, with seawaters in Tromso 354 cm (11.5 feet) higher than normal on Tuesday, February 11.

According to the country's meteorological institute, the air pressure across major parts of the region dropped down below 940 hectopascals — a level not safe for flying.

Airline company Wideroe said it has never experienced this kind of weather, in its almost 90-year history.

More than 70 flights were canceled, including almost all flights from and to Bodo, Tromso, and many of the smaller airports across Finmark, affecting more than 2 000 passengers.

Petter Forde, head of the Norwegian Pilots' Association, said he never experienced such big problems in his 38 years as a pilot in three airlines.

"For any airline, safety priority is number one. One does not compromise on flight safety, but it is so incredibly rare for this to happen. I've never experienced it before," he noted.

Extremely low air pressure makes it difficult for pilots to measure the distance between the plane and the ground using the cockpit altimeters. 

Air pressure over northern Norway on February 10, 2020. Credit: met.no

The low pressure also raised water levels along the Norwegian coast. In Tromso, the seawater was 3.5 m (11.5 feet) higher than normal on Tuesday, the meteorological institute said.

According to the agency's forecast, low pressure is still expected particularly in West Finnmark on Wednesday evening, February 12. Thunderstorms are also likely, with most winds predicted around Soroya. Meanwhile, both wind and snow showers are forecast in North Troms.

Featured image credit: Free-Photos/Pixabay

If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.

Share:


Your support makes a difference

Dear valued reader,

We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.

The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.

If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.

Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum.

Other support options include Patreon pledges, one-off payments using PayPal and purchasing products from our webshop.

Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Teo Blašković

$5 /month

  • Ad-free account
  • Clean user interface and fast browsing
  • Direct communication with us via chat and email
  • Suggest new features, content and applications
  • Early access to new apps and features

$50 /year

$10 /month

  • Ad-free account
  • Clean user interface and fast browsing
  • Direct communication with us via chat and email
  • Suggest new features, content and applications
  • Early access to new apps and features

$100 /year

$25 /month

  • Ad-free account
  • Clean user interface and fast browsing
  • Direct communication with us via chat and email
  • Suggest new features, content and applications
  • Early access to new apps and features

$200 /year

You can also support us on Patreon

support us on patreon

or by sending us a one-off payment using PayPal:


Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *