Heavy thunderstorms lead to several forest fires - NRK Oslo and Viken

Several parts of southern Norway were hit by severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon.

In Østfold alone, lightning strikes led to five forest fires. Prolonged drought, very dry in nature.

– We have five forest fires. There are two fires in Skiptvet and Aremark and Rakkestad, says Arne Nurmi, duty manager at East 110 Central.

The fire department is working hard to bring the fire under control.

– The duty manager says it’s busy now.

flood

Heavy rains have caused flooding in many places.

In Fredrikstad, two tunnels in the center are full of water. The police are writing on Twitter that it is impassable for vehicles. Notified to the Swedish Road Administration.

– Around 3:30 p.m., the police and fire service were notified of high water levels on the cableway, says Melissa Krag, operations manager for the Eastern Police District.

– We set up the point at the St. Croix crossing, and the police understand that the underpass under the train is the most affected.

An NRK reporter at the scene says police have closed the underpass leading to the Fredrikstad bridge. Firefighters assured that no one should drive there.

Yellow warning for heavy rain

Thunderstorms have so far hit parts of Østfold and Telemark hard.

— but it might look good elsewhere, too. It’s hard to know exactly where
It appears, says Eldbjørg Moxnes, the state meteorologist on duty.

– but exposed throughout the afternoon and evening across eastern Norway.

Rain is expected and there is a risk of thunderstorms during the day in western Norway.

A yellow warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms has been issued for many places in southern Norway. This warning is in effect from Thursday afternoon until the end of the day. Elsewhere, heavy rain is expected in Agder, Rogaland, Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane.

The Met Office recorded more than 1,000 lightning strikes in southern Norway in an hour between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. And the number continues to rise.