A powerful winter storm sweeping across the Nordic region has left at least three people dead in Sweden and caused widespread disruption to power supplies and transport networks in several countries.
Storm Johannes brought strong winds and dangerous conditions to large parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland, prompting weather warnings and emergency responses as authorities urged residents to remain cautious.
Sweden’s meteorological agency issued alerts for severe winds across much of the northern half of the country as the storm intensified, with fallen trees and power lines creating life-threatening hazards.
One man in his 50s was killed after being struck by a falling tree at the Kungsberget ski resort in southern Sweden, according to local media and police reports. The incident occurred as high winds lashed forested areas.
Further north, regional utility company Hemab confirmed that one of its employees died in an accident while carrying out repair work during the storm. The company did not provide further details about the circumstances.
Police also reported that a man in his 60s was taken to hospital after being hit by a tree while working in a forest near Hofors in east-central Sweden. He later died from his injuries, bringing the country’s death toll to three.
The storm caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure across the region. In Sweden alone, more than 40,000 homes were left without power, according to figures cited by the Swedish news agency TT.
Rail services were severely affected, with numerous train cancellations reported as fallen trees and debris blocked tracks. Road travel was also disrupted in several areas due to hazardous driving conditions.
Air and sea transport faced similar challenges. Several flights, ferry crossings and rail services across parts of the Nordic countries were cancelled as operators prioritised passenger safety amid the extreme weather.
In neighbouring Norway, the impact of Storm Johannes was particularly severe in the Nordland region, one of the country’s northernmost counties. Emergency services responded to more than 200 weather-related incidents, broadcaster NRK reported.
Strong winds cut power to around 23,000 homes in Nordland, while an additional 9,000 households were left without electricity in Norway’s Inland region. Repair crews worked in difficult conditions to restore supply.
Norwegian authorities warned that continued strong winds and snow could delay restoration efforts, urging residents to prepare for prolonged outages and avoid unnecessary travel.
In Finland, where the storm is known as Hannes, conditions began to ease by Sunday morning. However, the damage left behind was significant, with more than 60,000 homes still without power, according to public broadcaster Yle.
Aviation was among the sectors most visibly affected in Finland. Flights at Kittilä Airport in the north of the country were grounded after powerful winds pushed two aircraft off the runway.
The Helsinki Times reported that a Swiss Air jet carrying around 150 passengers had just landed from Geneva and was taxiing when it veered off the runway into a bank of snow.
At the same time, a smaller 400XT jet that was on the ground was also pushed off course by the strong winds. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident highlighted the severity of the storm.
Meteorologists warned that winter storms of this intensity pose growing risks across northern Europe, particularly in forested areas where falling trees can cause fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage.
Authorities across the Nordic countries continue to assess the damage and restore services, while reminding the public that extreme winter weather can remain dangerous even as storms begin to subside.
A powerful winter storm sweeping across the Nordic region has left at least three people dead in Sweden and caused widespread disruption to power supplies and transport networks in several countries.
Storm Johannes brought strong winds and dangerous conditions to large parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland, prompting weather warnings and emergency responses as authorities urged residents to remain cautious.
Sweden’s meteorological agency issued alerts for severe winds across much of the northern half of the country as the storm intensified, with fallen trees and power lines creating life-threatening hazards.
One man in his 50s was killed after being struck by a falling tree at the Kungsberget ski resort in southern Sweden, according to local media and police reports. The incident occurred as high winds lashed forested areas.
Further north, regional utility company Hemab confirmed that one of its employees died in an accident while carrying out repair work during the storm. The company did not provide further details about the circumstances.
Police also reported that a man in his 60s was taken to hospital after being hit by a tree while working in a forest near Hofors in east-central Sweden. He later died from his injuries, bringing the country’s death toll to three.
The storm caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure across the region. In Sweden alone, more than 40,000 homes were left without power, according to figures cited by the Swedish news agency TT.
Rail services were severely affected, with numerous train cancellations reported as fallen trees and debris blocked tracks. Road travel was also disrupted in several areas due to hazardous driving conditions.
Air and sea transport faced similar challenges. Several flights, ferry crossings and rail services across parts of the Nordic countries were cancelled as operators prioritised passenger safety amid the extreme weather.
In neighbouring Norway, the impact of Storm Johannes was particularly severe in the Nordland region, one of the country’s northernmost counties. Emergency services responded to more than 200 weather-related incidents, broadcaster NRK reported.
Strong winds cut power to around 23,000 homes in Nordland, while an additional 9,000 households were left without electricity in Norway’s Inland region. Repair crews worked in difficult conditions to restore supply.
Norwegian authorities warned that continued strong winds and snow could delay restoration efforts, urging residents to prepare for prolonged outages and avoid unnecessary travel.
In Finland, where the storm is known as Hannes, conditions began to ease by Sunday morning. However, the damage left behind was significant, with more than 60,000 homes still without power, according to public broadcaster Yle.
Aviation was among the sectors most visibly affected in Finland. Flights at Kittilä Airport in the north of the country were grounded after powerful winds pushed two aircraft off the runway.
The Helsinki Times reported that a Swiss Air jet carrying around 150 passengers had just landed from Geneva and was taxiing when it veered off the runway into a bank of snow.
At the same time, a smaller 400XT jet that was on the ground was also pushed off course by the strong winds. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident highlighted the severity of the storm.
Meteorologists warned that winter storms of this intensity pose growing risks across northern Europe, particularly in forested areas where falling trees can cause fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage.
Authorities across the Nordic countries continue to assess the damage and restore services, while reminding the public that extreme winter weather can remain dangerous even as storms begin to subside.