Police in northern Norway urge drivers to avoid unnecessary travel as extreme winter conditions create hazardous roads throughout Tromsø. The city faces what locals describe as 'soap-slick' ice conditions following continuous snowfall.
Four vehicles collided on Dramsvegen road Saturday morning when the first car lost control descending the hill. Multiple additional vehicles became stuck in the resulting chaos. Officer Magnus Hulsund described the scene as challenging for both pedestrians and drivers.
Hulsund emphasized the widespread nature of the problem. The entire municipality experiences dangerously slippery conditions. Police recommend residents carefully consider whether their travel is essential. Officers themselves rely on ice cleats to navigate the treacherous hills.
Road maintenance crews work around the clock with approximately 70 snowplows operating across Tromsø and surrounding areas. Odd Helge Vekve, road operations manager for Tromsø municipality, acknowledged the challenging conditions. Crews struggle to keep up with the accumulating snow.
Vekve explained that plowing operations face constant setbacks. When crews finish clearing one area, multiple other locations require immediate attention again. The situation creates a continuous cycle of snow removal efforts.
Meteorologist Mathias Tollinger confirmed more snow is expected throughout the weekend. Snow showers will continue with varying intensity, potentially intensifying again overnight into Monday. Weather stations recorded 52.6 centimeters of snow on Tromsøya island by Saturday morning.
Road officials offer practical advice to residents. Park vehicles where they won't obstruct snowplows. Place garbage bins inside driveways rather than along roadsides. Drive cautiously and avoid aggressive maneuvers, especially when descending hills.
The combination of fresh snow covering underlying ice creates particularly dangerous driving conditions. Standard road treatments prove ineffective against the current snowfall rate. Several additional accidents have already occurred as a result.
Northern Norwegian winters regularly test infrastructure and resident preparedness. This early season snowfall serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Arctic communities face annually. The situation demonstrates why Norwegian authorities emphasize winter readiness and cautious driving behavior during the dark months.
Police continue monitoring conditions and may increase staffing if necessary. For now, they rely on public cooperation and common sense to prevent further incidents. The coming days will determine whether crews can gain control over the accumulating snow.