High fire risk across Sweden for Walpurgis Night celebrations

Sweden faces a high or very high risk of forest and grass fires during this week’s Walpurgis Night celebrations, according to warnings from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), as reported by SVT Nyheter.

The traditional bonfires marking the arrival of spring could easily spread due to dry conditions, particularly in southern and eastern Götaland, southeastern Svealand, and on the islands of Öland and Gotland. Western Svealand, as well as snow-free coastal and inland areas of Norrland, also face elevated grass fire risks.

On May 1, the danger is expected to worsen, with most of the country—excluding mountainous regions and the westernmost parts of Götaland—under high or very high alert for both forest and grass fires.

Spring typically sees the highest fire risk after prolonged dry weather, SMHI noted.