Heavy snow and slick roads caused traffic accidents and major public transit delays across southern Norway on Thursday.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute issued yellow weather warnings for snow in both eastern and western regions as winter conditions arrived in densely populated areas.
Police reported numerous accidents and vehicles sliding off roads as changing conditions altered braking distances.
In Asker, a car landed on its roof off the roadway, and a school bus carrying 24 children ran off the road in Svarstad, according to NRK. All children and drivers in those incidents appeared uninjured, police stated.
Public transit systems struggled heavily with the winter conditions, particularly in Oslo. Ruter reported that 1,144 out of 1,486 planned bus trips were delayed or canceled Thursday morning. Buses struggled to climb hills in areas like Kjelsås and Holtet, with multiple lines experiencing severe delays or temporary suspensions.
Traffic operators said that many motorists had not switched to winter tires despite prior warnings. Nils Sødal of NAF advised drivers to stay off the roads if travel was non-essential. Statens vegvesen urged drivers to adjust their speed and equip proper winter tires as wet roads froze over.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute issued yellow weather warnings for snow covering Akershus, Oslo, Østfold, Vestfold, lower Buskerud, and southern Innlandet.
* How much snowfall was predicted for the region? Meteorologists forecasted between 5 and 15 centimeters of snow in the lowlands, with higher amounts possible in elevated areas.
* Were there any injuries reported from the traffic incidents?
Police reported that children aboard a school bus that slid off the road in Larvik appeared uninjured, and a driver involved in a collision on the Stord bridge was taken to a local clinic for a checkup with no visible injuries.
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