A powerful post-Christmas winter storm swept across the Nordic region on Saturday, claiming one life in Sweden and leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity across Sweden, Finland and Norway.
The storm, named Johannes in Sweden and Hannes in Finland, brought violent winds, heavy snowfall and dangerous sea conditions, downing trees, disrupting transport networks and damaging infrastructure. Meteorological authorities said the storm was moving south and was expected to peak overnight into Sunday.
Fatality and widespread disruption in Sweden
In central Sweden, a man in his 50s was killed near the Kungsberget ski resort in Sandviken after being struck by a falling tree branch. Police said he was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries, reports dw.com
Elsewhere in the country, a person was hospitalized in Järvsö after becoming trapped beneath a sheet-metal roof torn loose by the wind. More than 40,000 households were left without power, while numerous rail services were canceled as falling trees blocked tracks and damaged overhead lines.
Forecasters reported wind speeds approaching hurricane force in some areas and warned that conditions would worsen overnight, particularly in northern and mountainous regions, where heavy snowfall compounded the impact.
Power outages and travel chaos in Finland
In Finland, the storm generated hazardous travel conditions, with powerful winds and waves reaching up to seven meters along coastal areas. Public broadcaster Yle reported that around 33,000 homes were without electricity at the height of the storm.
At Kittilä Airport in northern Finland, flights were suspended after strong winds pushed two aircraft off the runway and into snowbanks. No injuries were reported. Ferry and cruise services were also halted due to rough seas, while snow and wind combined to create whiteout conditions in several regions.
Emergency services stretched in Northern Norway
Northern Norway also experienced significant disruption. In the Nordland region, emergency services responded to more than 200 weather-related incidents, according to local media.
Power was cut to approximately 23,000 homes in Nordland, with an additional 9,000 households affected in the Inland region. Authorities closed roads and canceled flights, rail services and ferry routes as severe weather continued to hamper travel.
Officials across the region urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert as the storm system continued its path southward.
Meanwhile, a winter snowstorm swept through New York City and large parts of the US Northeast over the weekend, triggering widespread flight cancellations and delays during the busy travel period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
New York City recorded around four inches (10.2 centimeters) of snowfall from Friday night into early Saturday, while some upstate areas received as much as 10 inches. The heavy snow significantly reduced visibility at major airports and slowed road traffic across the region.
Despite the disruption, forecasters said the worst of the storm had passed. “The heaviest snow is done,” said Bob Oravec, a forecaster with the US National Weather Service. He added that the system was steadily weakening, with only light flurries lingering across the Northeast on Saturday morning.
Mass flight cancellations and delays
Air travel was severely affected, with more than 1,600 flights canceled nationwide on Friday and an additional 800 canceled on Saturday, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. Thousands more flights were delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
The majority of cancellations were reported at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport. Disruptions also extended beyond the state, affecting flights in cities including Philadelphia and Toronto.
Emergency declared
Ahead of the storm, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency covering more than half of the state, urging residents to exercise caution and limit travel.
“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm,” Hochul said in a statement.
A similar state of emergency was declared in neighboring New Jersey by Acting Governor Tahesha Way, who warned that the storm would create dangerous road conditions and disrupt holiday travel. She advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel and allow road crews to carry out snow-clearing operations.
As conditions improved later on Saturday, residents and visitors emerged to enjoy the snow-covered city, with parks filling with families and children sledding as the storm gave way to clearer skies.
