What you need to know about Storm Babet in southern Sweden
Storm Babet is expected to hit southern Sweden today, with train and bus lines in some areas cancelled from the afternoon. The Öresund bridge is at risk of closure and Sweden's weather service warns serious flooding is possible.
Which areas are affected?
The storm is expected to reach southern Halland, Skåne, Blekinge and southern Öland on Friday afternoon, hitting the west coasts of lake Vänern and lake Vättern on Friday night.
Sweden's weather service, SMHI, has issued an orange warning for high water levels in the Baltic sea along the south west coast of Skåne, with a risk of flooding which could close roads and railways.
READ ALSO:
- How to prepare for Storm Babet in southern Sweden
- Why southern Sweden could see record-high water levels this weekend
The Skanör-Falsterbo peninsula in south-west Skåne is particularly vulnerable – with potential record-breaking water levels this weekend – and Vellinge municipality has set up temporary flood defences to protect the town of Skanör.
What does an orange warning mean?
An orange warning means that the weather could have “serious consequences” for society. Power outages are more likely and road conditions are likely to be poor.
The general public is advised to refrain from activities that expose them to weather risks, and take action to reduce the risk of injury to themselves and others. That could, for example, mean working from home instead of taking the car to the office.
“The weather could be dangerous to the public and cause major damage to property and the environment. There’s a great risk of disruptions to various public services, such as public transport,” reads SMHI’s definition of an orange weather warning.
A less serious yellow warning has also been issued for the south coast of Skåne.
Is there any risk of storm damage in these areas?
Harbours and coastal buildings risk serious damage, and some harbours may be completely unusable. Moored boats are also at risk, and erosion damage is likely.
Which roads and railways are affected?
From 3pm on Friday the following train lines are closed for at least 24 hours:
Svågertorp-Trelleborg, Svågertorp-Simrishamn, Ramlösa-Teckomatorp-Eslöv, Karlskrona–Kristianstad. Rail replacement buses will be put in place, local transport service Skånetrafiken writes on its website.
Trains between Kalmar and Linköping will not be running, nor will the Halmstad-Värnamo line.
The Öresund bridge will close if winds reach a speed of more than 25 metres per second. Bridge authorities warn that the risk of closure is greatest from 8pm on Friday to early Saturday morning.
A number of bus routes in Skåne will also be cancelled (correct as of 2:30pm on Friday):
From 10:40am
SkåneExpressen 15: Malmö – Skanör
From 1:30pm
Regional bus 177: Staffanstorp-Malmö
From 3pm
SkåneExpressen 10: Örkelljunga - Helsingborg
From 6pm:
Ystad city buses: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Trelleborg city buses: 1, 2 and 10
Regional bus 103: Höllviken-Lund
Regional bus 141: Svedala-Malmö
Regional bus 144: Anderslöv-Östra Grevie
Regional bus 145: Trelleborg-Svedala
Regional bus 146: Trelleborg-Malmö
Regional bus 148: Torup-Malmö
Regional bus 150: Klågerup-Vellinge
Regional bus 152: Höllviken
Regional bus 165: Svedala-Lund
Regional bus 181: Trelleborg-Vellinge
Regional bus 183: Trelleborg-Anderslöv
Regional bus 184: St Beddinge-Trelleborg
Regional bus 190: Ystad-Trelleborg
Regional bus 300: Falsterbo-Hyllie
Regional bus 301: Ystad-Sjöbo
Regional bus 305: Abbekås-Skurup
Regional bus 307: Ystad-Skurup
Regional bus 321: Simrishamn-Skillinge
Regional bus 322: Skillinge-Ystad
Regional bus 330: Sjöbo-Hörby
Regional bus 337: Ystad-Tomelilla
Regional bus 338: Tomelilla-Sjöbo
Regional bus 340: Sjöbo-Fränninge
Regional bus 341: Sjöbo-Veberöd
Regional bus 379: Vellinge-Östra Grevie
Regional bus 571: Simrishamn-Ystad
Regional bus 574: Simrishamn-Brösarp
Regional bus 575: Simrishamn-Gärsnäs
Regional bus 577: Simrishamn-Skillinge
Regional bus 579: Tomelilla-S:t Olof
SkåneExpressen 3: Simrishamn-Kristianstad
SkåneExpressen 4: Ystad-Kristianstad
SkåneExpressen 5: Simrishamn-Lund
SkåneExpressen 8: Sjöbo-Malmö
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See Also
Which areas are affected?
The storm is expected to reach southern Halland, Skåne, Blekinge and southern Öland on Friday afternoon, hitting the west coasts of lake Vänern and lake Vättern on Friday night.
Sweden's weather service, SMHI, has issued an orange warning for high water levels in the Baltic sea along the south west coast of Skåne, with a risk of flooding which could close roads and railways.
READ ALSO:
- How to prepare for Storm Babet in southern Sweden
- Why southern Sweden could see record-high water levels this weekend
The Skanör-Falsterbo peninsula in south-west Skåne is particularly vulnerable – with potential record-breaking water levels this weekend – and Vellinge municipality has set up temporary flood defences to protect the town of Skanör.
What does an orange warning mean?
An orange warning means that the weather could have “serious consequences” for society. Power outages are more likely and road conditions are likely to be poor.
The general public is advised to refrain from activities that expose them to weather risks, and take action to reduce the risk of injury to themselves and others. That could, for example, mean working from home instead of taking the car to the office.
“The weather could be dangerous to the public and cause major damage to property and the environment. There’s a great risk of disruptions to various public services, such as public transport,” reads SMHI’s definition of an orange weather warning.
A less serious yellow warning has also been issued for the south coast of Skåne.
Is there any risk of storm damage in these areas?
Harbours and coastal buildings risk serious damage, and some harbours may be completely unusable. Moored boats are also at risk, and erosion damage is likely.
Which roads and railways are affected?
From 3pm on Friday the following train lines are closed for at least 24 hours:
Svågertorp-Trelleborg, Svågertorp-Simrishamn, Ramlösa-Teckomatorp-Eslöv, Karlskrona–Kristianstad. Rail replacement buses will be put in place, local transport service Skånetrafiken writes on its website.
Trains between Kalmar and Linköping will not be running, nor will the Halmstad-Värnamo line.
The Öresund bridge will close if winds reach a speed of more than 25 metres per second. Bridge authorities warn that the risk of closure is greatest from 8pm on Friday to early Saturday morning.
A number of bus routes in Skåne will also be cancelled (correct as of 2:30pm on Friday):
From 10:40am
SkåneExpressen 15: Malmö – Skanör
From 1:30pm
Regional bus 177: Staffanstorp-Malmö
From 3pm
SkåneExpressen 10: Örkelljunga - Helsingborg
From 6pm:
Ystad city buses: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Trelleborg city buses: 1, 2 and 10
Regional bus 103: Höllviken-Lund
Regional bus 141: Svedala-Malmö
Regional bus 144: Anderslöv-Östra Grevie
Regional bus 145: Trelleborg-Svedala
Regional bus 146: Trelleborg-Malmö
Regional bus 148: Torup-Malmö
Regional bus 150: Klågerup-Vellinge
Regional bus 152: Höllviken
Regional bus 165: Svedala-Lund
Regional bus 181: Trelleborg-Vellinge
Regional bus 183: Trelleborg-Anderslöv
Regional bus 184: St Beddinge-Trelleborg
Regional bus 190: Ystad-Trelleborg
Regional bus 300: Falsterbo-Hyllie
Regional bus 301: Ystad-Sjöbo
Regional bus 305: Abbekås-Skurup
Regional bus 307: Ystad-Skurup
Regional bus 321: Simrishamn-Skillinge
Regional bus 322: Skillinge-Ystad
Regional bus 330: Sjöbo-Hörby
Regional bus 337: Ystad-Tomelilla
Regional bus 338: Tomelilla-Sjöbo
Regional bus 340: Sjöbo-Fränninge
Regional bus 341: Sjöbo-Veberöd
Regional bus 379: Vellinge-Östra Grevie
Regional bus 571: Simrishamn-Ystad
Regional bus 574: Simrishamn-Brösarp
Regional bus 575: Simrishamn-Gärsnäs
Regional bus 577: Simrishamn-Skillinge
Regional bus 579: Tomelilla-S:t Olof
SkåneExpressen 3: Simrishamn-Kristianstad
SkåneExpressen 4: Ystad-Kristianstad
SkåneExpressen 5: Simrishamn-Lund
SkåneExpressen 8: Sjöbo-Malmö
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