Record-breaking snowfall engulfs parts of Norway

A number of snowfall records tumbled across Norway, particularly its northern region, over the weekend. According to state meteorologist Eirik Samuelsen, Northern Norway has been practically buried by snow all throughout the season. With more heavy snow expected later in the week, this season is likely to become Tromso's snowiest.​

While people in the south enjoyed the cool weather in the past week, the residents in the north shivered through the cold and struggled with the heavy snow.

Official measurements in the northern municipality of Tromso said 30 cm (12 inches) settled in the area on Sunday alone, April 5, 2020.

There were huge local differences, however, said Samuelsen. "Here where I live, on Kvaloya, it came in more than that."

In Breivikeidet, Tromso, almost 1.2 m (4 feet) of snow had accumulated from Sunday to Monday, April 5 to 6. "I have never experienced so much snow in one day," he added.

In Tromso, 6.5 m (21.3 feet) of snow has accumulated this season so far, the highest since the 1999-2000 winter season.

As of Monday, April 6, Tromso had 160 cm (63 inches) of snow, just 13 cm (5.1 inches) away from the level at the same time in the record-breaking year of 1997.

In Ystnes, Finnmark, the snow was 2.8 m (9.2 feet) high by April 1, which was the highest at any station in the area and the highest snow depth registered in the lowland areas of Troms and Finnmark.

Samuelsen said with more heavy snow expected later in the week, this season is likely to become Tromso's snowiest.

Featured image credit: Norwegian Public Roads Administration