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Such weather is rare in January. Norway threatened by wildfires

Redakcja

27.01.2026 09:01

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Such weather is rare in January. Norway threatened by wildfires

Such alerts are rare in the middle of winter. Fot. Pixabay (zdjęcie poglądowe)

A dry and cold January is increasing the risk of wildfires in southern Norway. Constant gusts of wind are also working against Norway. Emergency services are warning about an unusual situation for the middle of winter.
Meteorologists are recording a prolonged period of cold and dry weather. There has been no precipitation since the beginning of January. Fire warnings have been issued in several regions for grass and heathland fires. The risk mainly concerns southern and western Norway. The situation may persist for several more weeks.

Dry winter and no precipitation. This is an unusual situation

The Meteorological Institute has issued a fire warning for Rogaland. An extension to Vestland is being considered. Forecasters point to an exceptionally stable high-pressure system. No rain or snow is forecast for the coming weeks. Such a situation is very rare in winter.

Data from Bergen shows the scale of the phenomenon. Since the beginning of January, only 82 mm of precipitation has fallen there. This is less than one third of the long-term average for this month. In previous years, the region experienced strong storms and heavy precipitation in winter. This January is clearly different from previous patterns.
In the photo: area covered by a level two fire alert.

In the photo: area covered by a level two fire alert.Ill. Varsom.no

Fire threat in Norway. First interventions reported

A thin snow cover in lowland areas favors the drying of vegetation. Constant wind further increases the risk of rapid fire spread. Firefighters in Rogaland and Vestland have already responded to several smaller fires. Some of them were caused by uncontrolled grass burning or campfires.

In Sandnes, an open area fire broke out over the weekend. Smoke was visible in much of the region. Firefighters also intervened in Sola after a campfire got out of control. A similar incident occurred in Bergen. Authorities emphasize that the lack of precipitation, not the temperature itself, is the main risk factor.
The Meteorological Institute is continuously monitoring the situation. Further warnings may be issued if the dry weather persists. Emergency services are urging extra caution despite the winter season. The current conditions require more attention than usual.
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