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STORM

Sunshine forecast as winter storm moves on

Storm Alexander failed to deliver a knockout blow in southern Sweden with weather experts now forecasting calmer conditions and even a spot of sun to come.

Sunshine forecast as winter storm moves on
Trains in Malmö were halted as a precaution before the storm hit. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

As the day broke on Saturday the storm had moved from the south to Gotland and Öland. Despite concerns that Alexander could wreak havoc the storm turned out to be less severe than expected, with only minor reports of damage. 

"From there the storm is slowly pulling away but we are measuring wind speeds of 20 – 22 metres per second in the villages in the south of Öland and even more on Gotland's southern cape. There the wind is 20 metres per second but we have measured 31 metres per second in the villages," SMHI meterologist Chrysanthi Grammatopoulou told the TT news agency.

On Friday the Swedish weather agency (SMHI) issued a class 2 warning – the second highest warning on the agency's scale for southern Sweden as storm Alexander approached.

As a precaution train and ferry services in the south were ground to a halt, including on the Öresund bridge which connects Sweden with Denmark.

Late on Friday night the bridge was reopened but motorists were urged to drive carefully.

In Jönköping the storm in addition to heavy snowfall caused several traffic accidents. Rescue services reported there were an estimated 30 accidents reported over the course of Friday night.

"Fortunately there have been no fatal or serious injuries reported," Bo Gunnarsson of the Jönköping police told SVT news.

The storm briefly left an estimated 5,000 houesholds without power but by Saturday morning the vast majority had electricity again.

All warnings for severe winds over land have now expired but there is still a class one warning in place for gales over the Baltic sea and the Åland islands.

For the weekend the forecast is for generally calm conditions and sunny spells for most of the country according to SMHI. 

TT/The Local/pr

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