The Norwegian Meteorological Institute has issued a red warning for floods, landslides and extremely heavy rain in several places in Vestland. Red hazard warnings are not commonplace. This level of danger occurs very rarely and can lead to major injuries.
According to Yr, you only see red warning signs when it is expected that the weather can have extreme consequences with the risk of loss of life and major damage to property and infrastructure.
It will be worst in the inner regions of Western Norway. The most precipitation is expected from Thursday afternoon, when there may be “extremely heavy rain”. On Thursday morning, the situation is still under control.
Calm before the storm
– It has been raining all night, but so far there have been no weather-related incidents. It’s probably the calm before the storm, says operations manager Knut Dahl-Michelsen in the West police district to NTB just before 6 o’clock on Thursday morning.
The same is said by the police in Møre and Romsdal, where storm Jakob has not announced his arrival either. In the Sørvest police district, which covers Rogaland and some municipalities in Agder and Vestland, it is still calm.
– There has been some rain, but no incidents, says operations manager Steinar Knudsen.
But the West police district has increased preparedness and encourages people to follow weather and traffic reports before they leave the house.
– The police urge the population to avoid unnecessary traffic on the roads in the district. The police also encourage the population to update themselves on weather reports in the media and danger alerts on Yr and varsom.no, the message is.
Bergensbanen closed
On Thursday morning, at least 15 county roads in Vestland, Rogaland and Møre og Romsdal are closed due to landslides and storms, floods and the risk of rockslides and landslides.
Bane Nor states that the Bergen Railway is closed between Finse and Bergen due to the storm. The Norwegian Road Administration says that avalanche incidents can have consequences for traffic on the roads.
– Roads can be closed at short notice, and traveling on the roads while the flood and landslide situation is ongoing can cause considerable danger, they write in a press release.
The Red Cross The Red Cross is on extra standby in Vestland, Møre og Romsdal, Rogaland, Buskerud and Innlandet due to the enormous amounts of rainfall that are expected in connection with the extreme weather Jakob.
– We are increasing preparedness in counties that are expected to be affected by the extreme weather. We do this to be able to assist with, among other things, search and rescue, evacuation, care for those affected and transport of rescue materials to those affected, says Øyvin Rannem Lund in the Red Cross.
Closed schools and crisis staff in several municipalities
Several schools in Sogn og Fjordane have home school on Thursday, including Sogndal secondary school.
– The school has been in contact with all the municipalities in Sogn, and in addition made assessments about what it will be like for the students to travel to school in the predicted storm, writes Sogndal secondary school on its website.
Sunnfjord municipality writes on its side that school pupils in a number of areas are asked to stay at home. Pupils in other areas who stay at home will not have their absence registered, but parents are asked to send a message in advance. In addition, the municipal council meeting in Sunnfjord is held on Teams on Thursday.
The municipality of Voss has appointed a crisis staff, but all schools and kindergartens in the municipality will remain open on Thursday, but that, depending on how the flood situation develops, it may be relevant to end the school day earlier. In that case, the parents will be notified. Ullensvang has also set up crisis staff.
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**Interview with Knut Dahl-Michelsen, Operations Manager in the West Police District**
**Interviewer:** Good morning, Knut. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the severe weather conditions affecting southwestern Norway. Can you tell us about the current situation as we approach what the Norwegian Meteorological Institute has classified as a red warning?
**Knut Dahl-Michelsen:** Good morning! Yes, the situation is indeed concerning. As you mentioned, we are under a red warning for floods and landslides, particularly in the inner regions of Western Norway. This alert indicates an extreme level of danger that we don’t see often, and we’re taking it very seriously.
**Interviewer:** What kind of precautions are being taken at this stage?
**Knut Dahl-Michelsen:** We have increased our preparedness significantly. While it’s relatively calm at the moment, we’re urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay informed by following weather updates and traffic reports. We’re also in close contact with local authorities to monitor any incidents that may arise.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that there have been no significant weather-related incidents so far. Is there a sense of calm before the storm?
**Knut Dahl-Michelsen:** Precisely! We’ve had some rainfall overnight without any major incidents, but we’re bracing for what’s to come. The heavy rain is expected to start in earnest later today, and we’re ready to act swiftly if conditions worsen.
**Interviewer:** What impact do you expect this weather to have on transportation in the region?
**Knut Dahl-Michelsen:** Already, we’ve seen road closures due to landslides and risks associated with flooding. The Bergen Railway has also announced closures on certain sections. We advise everyone to be cautious and aware that conditions can change rapidly.
**Interviewer:** what message would you like to convey to the public?
**Knut Dahl-Michelsen:** I want to emphasize the importance of safety. Please take this warning seriously and avoid any non-essential travel. Keep updated with the latest forecasts and heed the guidance from local authorities. We are here to assist and ensure everyone’s safety throughout this weather event.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Knut. Stay safe, and we appreciate the work you and your team are doing during this challenging time.
**Knut Dahl-Michelsen:** Thank you, and we’ll continue to keep the community informed as the situation develops.
