Trine Hegdahl, a hydrologist at the NVE flood warning service, told NRK Troms og Finnmark that there is controlled snowmelt in parts of East Finnmark, particularly in the Polmakelva river in Tana and the Eibyelva river in Alta. She said the rivers are well below warning levels, though several are experiencing increased water flow due to incoming warm weather. The entire country has a green danger level for flooding in the coming days, according to official sources.
A yellow warning has been issued for wet loose snow avalanches from West Finnmark to Inner Troms. Meteorologisk institutt expects Finnmark to have a mostly sunny and warm weekend, and Northern Norway may see the highest temperatures on May 17. Hegdahl noted that higher temperatures combined with wind could cause significant snowmelt, but the situation is expected to be manageable, unlike last spring when there was more snow and a more intense situation.
It still looks like we have controlled melting in those areas in East Finnmark, where there is still some snow.
On May 10, 2025, a snow depth of 46 cm was measured at Nyrud weather station in Pasvik, Sør-Varanger, while on the same date this year there was no snow. Hegdahl explained that rapid temperature rise with significant snowpack can cause strong flooding, but this year there is less snow. NVE is monitoring the situation despite not expecting flooding in Finnmark.
We have increases in several rivers, which will also get increased water flow going forward in connection with the warmth that is coming in.
If you have higher temperatures, and combined with wind, you could get quite a good melting of the snow. But it looks like it should be okay now. It was a bit more intense situation last spring, where there was more snow.
If you have a lot of snow and rapid temperature rise that lasts a while, you get snowmelt going. Then you can get quite severe flooding. But now it looks like we don't have quite as much snow.