Norwegian road crews battle dangerous driving conditions across central and western regions as an Arctic weather system brings heavy snow and ice. Multiple accidents have closed major highways and caused significant traffic delays during the morning commute.
Road maintenance teams work tirelessly to keep routes passable. Yet challenging conditions persist across many areas. Winter has firmly arrived in Trøndelag county. Snow covers road surfaces throughout much of the network. Both county roads and national highways face difficulties, according to traffic center officials.
The E6 highway between Trondheim and Stjørdal experienced the most severe problems. Snowplows could not clear the accumulation quickly enough. Authorities closed tunnels along this critical route, creating extensive traffic queues. The winter weather caused more congestion than usual during the morning rush toward Trondheim.
Further north, the E39 highway closed completely near Hornindalsvatnet in Stad municipality. Two trucks were involved in an incident, including one tanker that overturned. Police reported extremely slippery conditions at the scene. Smaller vehicles can detour via Skredevegen, authorities confirmed.
Outside Ålesund, officials warned of particularly treacherous road surfaces. On Ellingsøyvegen in Ålesund municipality, two vehicles collided during morning hours. Two people were involved in the crash, with one person trapped for some time. The extent of injuries remains unclear, according to police operations leadership.
Several other traffic incidents occurred during morning hours. A woman in her 40s rear-ended a truck on the E6 near Trondheim Airport. She required transport to emergency medical services. Police confirmed she still had summer tires on her vehicle. Officers confiscated her driver's license following the incident.
In Stjørdal, a car went off a steep embankment on Viksjøvegen just before 8 AM. The driver managed to exit the vehicle independently and alert authorities. Another driver in his 30s ended up in a field with his car in Orkland after 7 AM. Fortunately, he emerged unharmed from the off-road incident.
Two people and a dog went off county road 770 in Foldereid. A man and woman required medical attention following their accident.
Meteorological experts describe the weather system as a polar low pressure system. One weather specialist characterized it as nature's response to lemmings - small but fierce. The system brings snow showers across large portions of the country throughout the weekend.
Snowfall will continue Friday and through the weekend, according to meteorological forecasts. In Trøndelag, Nordland, and Møre og Romsdal counties, the snow line will sit between 0 and 200 meters elevation. It will creep slightly higher on Saturday.
Trondheim received the most snow during the past 24 hours. Some areas accumulated 10-15 centimeters. However, Oppdal appears positioned to receive the heaviest snowfall in coming days. Weather experts predict over half a meter of snow could accumulate near Ångardsvatnet in Storlidalen by Tuesday.
The dangerous conditions extend beyond motor vehicles. Electric scooter riders also face hazardous travel conditions Friday morning.
This early winter blast highlights Norway's ongoing challenge maintaining transportation networks during severe weather transitions. The rapid onset caught some drivers unprepared, particularly those still using summer tires. Road authorities face the annual dilemma of balancing preparedness costs against unpredictable early winter storms. International visitors and new residents should note that Norwegian winter driving requires proper equipment and adjusted driving techniques, especially when conditions deteriorate rapidly.