Severe avalanche risk in Swedish mountains – life-threatening conditions

Sweden’s mountain regions face dangerous avalanche conditions, with authorities warning of a “significant” risk level in key areas, public broadcaster SVT Nyheter reports.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s avalanche forecast service, Lavinprognoser, has issued a level 3 warning—classified as “significant danger”—for the Abisko/Riksgränsen and Kebnekaise mountain ranges until 6 pm Thursday. Conditions are described as life-threatening.

Rescuers and officials urge the public to avoid all terrain steeper than 25 degrees and to stay clear of areas below steep snowfields, as avalanches can be triggered remotely. On Wednesday, five people were caught in an avalanche near Riksgränsen in Kiruna municipality, with one suffering serious injuries.

The risk is expected to escalate to level 4, or “high danger,” in both Abisko/Riksgränsen and Kebnekaise by Friday. Moderate risk (level 2) currently applies to western Vindelfjällen, southern Lappland, southern Jämtland, and western Härjedalen mountain ranges.

Sweden’s five-level avalanche scale defines level 3 as conditions where human-triggered avalanches are likely and spontaneous slides possible. Level 4 indicates a high probability of both natural and human-triggered avalanches.