Heavy rain and thunderstorms sweep across southern Sweden
A significant weather shift has moved across Sweden, ending a week of heatwaves and sunshine with intense low-pressure systems, heavy rainfall, and widespread thunderstorms. SMHI has issued multiple weather warnings, including an orange-level warning for interior and eastern Östergötland, where between 60 and 80 millimeters of rain are expected to fall within a short period.
Orange and yellow warnings in effect
The orange warning for Östergötland—the second highest level—is in effect from 15:00 to 21:00 on Saturday, July 18, 2026. This area includes Norrköping, Linköping, and Kisa. SMHI meteorologist Marie Staerk noted that when such large volumes of rain fall in a short time, the situation can become very difficult. In addition to the orange warning, SMHI has issued yellow warnings for large parts of Götaland and southern Svealand, covering areas from Gothenburg in the west to the Småland coast in the east, and stretching as far north as Södertälje. In these regions, rainfall is expected to reach between 30 and 60 millimeters. Meteorologist Sandra Fyrstedt explained that the rainfall is characterized by heavy, local showers, leading to significant variations in intensity across different locations.
Impact on infrastructure and emergency services
In Norrköping, numerous private homes, restaurants, and businesses have suffered water damage. Lennart Ågren, a duty officer at Räddningstjänsten Östra Götaland, stated that the volume of calls is so high that emergency crews cannot assist everyone immediately, urging property owners to take personal responsibility for mitigating damage. In Fyrbodal, in Västra Götaland, emergency services have been similarly overwhelmed. Unit manager Peter Gustafsson reported that crews have been unable to respond to many reports of flooded basements due to the high volume of incoming alarms, which include responding to building fires and a roof collapse at the Torp shopping center in Uddevalla. Traffic has also been severely impacted. Motorists are advised to avoid driving through standing water, as it poses a high risk of hydroplaning and engine damage. In Vaggeryd, a fire truck became stuck in a water-filled viaduct while responding to a road accident. Police in Östergötland have urged residents to leave their cars at home due to poor visibility and hazardous road conditions.
Thunderstorms and power outages
The rainfall is accompanied by intense lightning activity. Since midnight on Saturday, SMHI has registered approximately 15,000 electrical discharges across the country. In Västra Götaland, lightning strikes are suspected to have ignited fires in several barns, including locations in Lilla Edets kommun and Vänersborg. No injuries to humans or animals have been reported. Additionally, over 14,000 customers on Tjörn and Orust were affected by a major power outage around midday on Saturday. It remains unclear if the outage was directly caused by the storm.
Recommended precautions
SMHI and emergency officials offer the following guidance for those in affected areas: * Property protection: Move items from floors to higher levels to prevent water damage and seal basements where possible. * Drainage: Clear gutters, downspouts, and storm drains of debris to ensure water can flow freely. * Travel: Expect delays or cancellations in public transport. If driving, avoid flooded roads, allow for extra travel time, and reduce speed. * Monitoring: Residents are advised to continue monitoring SMHI’s website, as the low-pressure system is expected to persist and may result in new warnings being issued for the following day. While the southern parts of the country face the brunt of the weather, northern Sweden is expected to remain relatively calm, with clearer skies and milder conditions.
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