Several avalanches occurred on Friday afternoon in northern Norway. At least four people died, according to the Norwegian newspaper VG. In the Kiruna/Riksgränsen mountains and in the Kebnekaise area, the avalanche danger is now classified as significant.
"Although the situation is not nearly as serious as in northern Norway, we also have a dangerous snow cover in some areas that are close to the Norwegian border, such as the Kiruna mountains," says Mattias Tarestad, avalanche expert at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's avalanche forecasting service.
An extended period of cold and clear weather has created weak snow that has since been buried by additional snow as it began to snow and blow earlier in the week. The snow on top, a so-called flatbed, binds very poorly to the old snow surface.
" It takes very little for the balance to be disturbed, the weight of a skier can be enough to start a large and dangerous avalanche, says Mattias Tarestad at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's avalanche forecasting service.
The Easter weekend is now on the doorstep and it means high season for off-piste skiing, ski touring and snowmobiling in the Swedish mountains. The fact that the weather looks to be better on Saturday and especially on Sunday reduces the likelihood of spontaneous avalanches, but at the same time increases the likelihood of avalanche accidents with people involved.