Record lows as winter freeze grips Sweden

Following heavy overnight snowfalls across eastern areas of the country, a new record low for the winter was set on Saturday morning in northern Sweden as the mercury plunged to -33.5C .

The seasonal low was recorded in Vittangi between Kiruna and Gällivare, beating the -32.6 degrees Celsius recorded in Nedre Soppero on Friday evening.

Most of the snowfall forecast for the coming days is expected along the east coast of Sweden.

“There is up to 40 centimetres of snow,” said Emil Björck, meteorologist at the Swedish meteorological office SMHI.

During Saturday the snowfalls will spread through inland areas of Dalarna, Jämtland and Härjedalen.

“It will also be snowing heavily around (lakes) Vänern and Vättern during the day, said Björck.

The snowfalls have created widespread problems on the roads along with delays to train services along the coast of Norrland, in Gävleborg, Dalarna, Västernorrland and in Jämtland.

http://www.thelocal.se/44788/20121201/

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