Power cuts hit Sweden and Finland as violent winds fell trees, halted flights and rail, and forced emergency alerts across much of the Nordic region.
A powerful storm sweeping across northern Europe has killed three people in Sweden and caused widespread disruption across the Nordic region, authorities said, as emergency crews raced to restore power and clear damaged transport networks.
The storm, named Johannes by meteorological agencies, brought severe winds and harsh winter conditions that toppled trees, damaged infrastructure, and paralyzed travel in parts of Sweden and neighboring Finland.
Swedish police confirmed that all three deaths were linked to falling trees during the storm. One victim, a man in his 50s, was killed near the Kungsberget ski resort in central Sweden after a tree collapsed in high winds. Another fatality involved a utility worker in the coastal town of Härnösand who died while clearing storm debris. A third man, aged 60, was struck by a falling tree while working in a forested area near the town of Hofors.
Authorities urged residents to stay indoors and avoid wooded areas as conditions remained dangerous across large parts of the country.
Beyond the fatalities, Johannes triggered extensive power outages. More than 40,000 households across Sweden lost electricity, according to grid operators. In Finland, officials said outages affected about 85,000 homes, with the hardest-hit areas in central and western regions.
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Transportation systems across the region were also heavily disrupted. Rail services were suspended on multiple routes after trees fell across tracks, while airlines canceled or delayed flights due to strong winds and reduced visibility. Numerous roads were blocked, leaving some rural communities temporarily cut off from emergency services.
Sweden’s Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued orange and yellow wind warnings for more than half of the country, signaling conditions that posed a significant risk to life and property. Similar weather alerts were issued in parts of Finland and Norway, where authorities also reported fallen trees and localized flooding.
Emergency services said response efforts were complicated by the scale of the damage and the continuing instability of the weather. Crews worked through the day to clear debris, repair power lines, and assist stranded motorists, though officials warned that full restoration could take several days.
Johannes is the latest in a series of intense storms to strike northern Europe in recent years. Climate experts say the Nordic region is experiencing more frequent and severe weather events, increasing pressure on aging infrastructure during winter months.
Officials across the region urged the public to follow safety advisories, monitor official forecasts, and prepare for further disruptions as the storm system continues to move eastward.