Several rail lines are closed due to heavy winds

tree road windsTree fallen over the road. Photo: Pixabay.com

Several rail lines are closed due to heavy winds in the east

A large area near Oslo Central Station is blocked due to a scaffold that has come loose. Several train lines are also closed due to the heavy winds and trees falling over the track.

 

– The wind has begun to increase in the south – on the coast near Lindesnes. It will gradually increase northwards and reach the Oslo Fjord during the afternoon, says State Meteorologist at Meteorological Institute, Magnus Ovhed, to NTB on Friday morning.

Rail traffic in Eastern Norway has already been affected by the storm.

At 4.30 pm, the Østfold line is closed between Kråkstad and Tomter, and also between Sarpsborg and Ed, Gjøvikbanen is closed between Roa and Gjøvik and the Halden-Sarpsborg stretch is also closed.

Roof blew away

Around 4 pm a roof scaffold has collapsed at Tollboden near Oslo Central Station. The police implore people to leave the area.

– The lower part of Tollbugata is cordoned off. Peace. Olsen gate / Prinsen gate is cordoned off in the direction of Tollbugata. Public transport is also affected by these barriers. The area that is considered exposed has been evacuated, and work to secure the scaffolding is underway, the police continues.

In Sandefjord, the emergency services also fully occupied. Among other things, parts of a roof have been blown away from a restaurant.

– We ask people to be aware that loose elements may fall from roofs. The fire department is on its way to the scene, the police in South East informs Twitter.

In Østfold the wind also causes trouble and the police report about roofs that has blown away from a building in Sarpsborg. Cases in Rakkestad and Fredrikstad have also been reported where people have sustained injuries to their heads after being hit by trees.

At the Fredrikstad stadium, a boy was sent to the emergency room after been hit in his head by a goal that tumbled over in the strong wind, writes Fredriksstad Blad.

On both sides of the Oslo Fjord, there are reports of trees blown into the road, and the police ask motorists to be alert.

Warns people in the mountains

The meteorologist warns people in the mountains and says the wind gusts will be significantly stronger there. In the lowlands, the wind is already so strong that people must secure loose objects.

– Things that are loose and large, such as tents, must be secured, otherwise, they can blow away. Small watercraft and boats may also have problems, says Ovhed.

The rescue company states that they assist boats that struggle and are drifting in the Bunnefjord near Oslo. They encourage small boat owners to stay on land, as well.

– There are worryingly many boats out on the sea. We ask for understanding that we can not assist boats that are threatening to lose their moorings, the rescue company tweets on Friday afternoon.

Ferries cancelled

In the south of the country, several ferry companies have cancelled a number of departures due to the strong winds.

Fjordline has cancelled the departure from Kristiansand at 1.30 pm and subsequently the return trip from Hirtshals at 5 pm. Color Line, in turn, has cancelled several departures between Sandefjord and Strømstad and between Kristiansand and Hirtshals.

On Friday morning, The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) issued a warning of land and flood slides for central Norway and inner areas of southern Norway due to the intense low pressure that is moving northwards. It is expected to come 50-70 millimetres of rainfall in some places.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today