Western Sweden caught in downpour

Rain has been pouring down over Dalsland and southern Värmland in western Sweden over the weekend. In Åmål, around 100 properties have been flooded and the Swedish Road Administration (Vägverket) was forced to close several roads in the area on Saturday.

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“We have had more than 100 millimetres of rain since yesterday,” said Anders Olsson, head of the Åmål fire and rescue services.

“Right when I thought it would let up, it started raining again and became even worse than before. It was unbelievable,” said Rolf Bergström, the municipal official who has led the campaign to stop the flooding in Åmål.

He explained that the entire town has been affected by flooding and that the cellars of more than 100 residences had filled with water.

“There are more than than two decimetres of water in these houses,” he said.

The traffic management dispatch in Gothenburg faced a hectic Saturday. Several roads in southern Värmland and Dalsland were closed, and even more were covered in water. Reports from southern Värmland also indicate that several roads might be undermined, which could lead to landslide.

“These are mainly smaller roads around Säffle, Åmål and southwestern Värmland. But the E45 motorway and several municipal roads are also covered with water in some places,” said Daniel Gustafsson of the Gothenburg traffic management dispatch.

Meteorologist Linnea Rehn of the SMHI meteorological agency confirmed the amount of rain the area has been extreme.

“It's moving northeast and will leave the region sometime during the late evening or night,” she said on Saturday evening.

During the night, the storm was expected to move towards Svealand and southern Norrland in central Sweden and could cause powerful showers, although not to the same extent as previously.

According to SMHI, the rain will cease entirely on Sunday, with the exception of a few scattered showers.