• Sweden edition

Spring floods to threaten Sweden

Published: 24 Feb 10 14:32 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/25184/20100224/

The Swedish meteorological service warns of the possibility of severe flooding with a spring thaw. At greatest risk are the areas of Götaland in southern Sweden and the mid-Sweden province of Södermanland.

According to the Swedish weather service (SMHI) the threat of floods is linked to the excessive amounts of snow the central and southern parts of the country have experienced.

The areas around Jönköping, Lysekil and Ljungby have suffered record snowfalls. In many other parts of the country the level of snow approaches all-time highs.

"There is currently a low level of meltwater in Götaland and the eastern parts of Svealand, but when the snow melts in earnest there is a risk of a severe spring flooding. The greatest risk is in the north east of Götaland and in Södermanland.

"Currently it is difficult to say exactly where, when and what volume the spring meltwater will be. It all depends on weather developments," said SMHI in a forecast on Wednesday.

TT/Peter Holland (news@thelocal.se)

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15:27 February 24, 2010 by sissygirl
Hopefully the Swedish engineers will figure out a way to drain off all that water. Sweden has had enough to deal with this winter. Spring should be a welcomed time.
15:34 February 24, 2010 by Puffin
I think it is going to be a tough one this year - already last autumn there was excess water on the ground that could not drain away as the ground was waterlogged and the rivers were high - and this is how it all froze for the winter - now there is 70-100cm of snow sitting on top of the ground with no place to go come the spring
15:50 February 24, 2010 by millionmileman
When I drove in Sweden in 1968 with my left-hand-drive Saab 96 from England, I was now driving on the the right-side of the road for the very first time. What made this even more fun was the fact that that Sweden was also learning how to drive on the right, also for the first time.

I was told by the elders that Sweden drove on the left, with the wheel on the left, to enable drivers to see the deep snow-run off ditches, thereby reducing the risk of driving off the road into them, during the springtime thaw.

Now that the roads are of much greater quality, this risk is reduced. An additional reason for driving on the left was that Britain and and Sweden were not invaded by Napoleon, who marched on the right. So this was to confuse him in case of invasion.
15:52 February 24, 2010 by Barnflicka90
This is just a disaster, Why doesnt Sweden have some sort of plan to prevent problems such as this from happening. They need to realize that the winter is unpredictable and think ahead.
16:26 February 24, 2010 by Nuname
Yes Sweden really should prevent so much snow from falling.

Failing that maybe Sweden could make sure all that snow doesn't melt.

If that doesn't work maybe Sweden could pay for an army of immigrants to shovel all of the snow into the sea before it melts, although I think the taxes may have to go up a tad to pay for that.
19:16 February 24, 2010 by Vitas
How Sweden lived befor? Every season now is catastrophe? Public transport again will stop?
19:55 February 24, 2010 by sherkovic
omgga...2 days ago the 'snow' was threat...today the 'thawing' is threat!!
20:00 February 24, 2010 by mikmak
Swedes must live in constant fear, or is it just news sites like this that prefer disaster headlines ;)
23:12 February 24, 2010 by stevewf
I have experienced flooding in the UK. Its horrible. At least Sweden has a reasonable amount of warning of the probable floods. People should take note and move precious belongings out of reach of possible flood damage while they have time.
03:27 February 25, 2010 by Davey-jo
This has not happened yet so don't get too agitated. The thaw will happen so get prepared and take your stuff upstairs, with any luck it will be a slow gradual thaw and the water will run gently to the sea and the daffodils will dance in the breeze just like Wordsworth said. And we'll all live happily ever after ..... so relax.
09:45 February 25, 2010 by Twiceshy
Oh, the advantages of living on slightly elevated ground.
12:11 February 25, 2010 by DamnImmigrant
With this much snow outside - it is a NO BRAINER that there will be flooding.

The only thing you can do about it right now is to have the unemployed filling sand bags so there will be a stock of them at critical locations.

@Barnflicka90 - "This is just a disaster, Why doesnt Sweden have some sort of plan to prevent problems such as this from happening.

I hope your statement an attempt at humor.
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