Norway Grapples with Widespread Travel Disruptions Amid Severe Winter Weather
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A surge of challenging weather conditions across Norway is causing significant disruptions to both road and air travel on December 29, 2025. From traffic collisions and hazardous roadways to airport closures and stranded passengers, the country is contending with the full force of a winter storm.
Road Conditions Deteriorate Across Multiple Regions
Initial reports emerged at 4:30 PM local time regarding traffic problems on the E6 highway near Hommelvik in Trøndelag county. According to a statement from operations manager Ellen Maria Brende, the area experienced “complete chaos” with multiple vehicles involved in collisions in Dalabakkan. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The situation was further complicated by vehicles parked on the roadway while drivers exchanged information, leading to additional secondary accidents as other cars slid into the stationary vehicles. By 5:03 PM, police indicated the immediate situation had stabilized, but road conditions still required salting.
The difficulties extended beyond Trøndelag. At 6:00 PM, authorities responded to a traffic accident at Åsenfjorden in Levanger, describing the road surface as dangerously slick. “The place is sparkling clean,” Brende noted, indicating a sheet of ice. She added that the road would remain unsuitable for vehicle traffic until it could be properly treated.
Further incidents were reported throughout the afternoon. Cars veered off the road in both Malvik and Røros around 1:00 PM, with slippery conditions and poor visibility cited as contributing factors in Røros. A three-vehicle accident in Trondheim at 3:00 PM resulted in two people being transported to the emergency room. Earlier, at approximately 2:30 PM, a reported accident on the E6 near Dovre involved seven individuals, all of whom received medical attention at a hospital or emergency room.
Airports Struggle with Snow and Rain
Trondheim Airport Værnes experienced significant disruptions as well. Several planes were forced to abandon landing attempts due to inclement weather. Marit Stigen, the airport director, explained to NRK that the runway was closed for plowing between 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM, and subsequent rainfall overwhelmed snow removal efforts. “Then there was so much rain that all cloths were needed,” she stated. Flights originating from Oslo, Stockholm, and Stavanger were diverted, and numerous aircraft were seen circling the airport awaiting clearance to land. Stigen assured the public that plowing crews were working at full capacity and closely monitoring weather forecasts, noting that the disruptions occurred during a relatively quiet travel period.
Passengers Stranded as Flights Divert
The challenging conditions extended beyond Trondheim, impacting travelers across the region. Edny Vevang, originally scheduled to fly to Hammerfest, found herself unexpectedly stranded at Tromsø Airport. “I traveled from Mehamn, was going to Hammerfest and ended up here in Tromsø due to bad weather,” Vevang told NRK, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the travel disruptions.
The widespread disruptions underscore the vulnerability of Norway’s transportation infrastructure to severe winter weather. Authorities are urging travelers to exercise extreme caution and to postpone non-essential travel until conditions improve. .
