According to multiple reports, the ice breakup in Piteälven took place on April 17, earlier than normal. In Torneälven, the Lions raft crossed the border on April 23 at 17:25 Swedish time, marking the earliest crossing since the competition began in 1959. This is only the fifth time the raft has crossed in April.
The most common ice breakup date for Torneälven is between May 7 and 10. René Capell, duty hydrologist at SMHI, said temperatures in recent weeks have been 3-4 degrees higher than normal for this period. "This is a trend that we will see more of in the coming years," Capell said at a press conference.
The specific impacts on local communities and ecosystems remain unclear, as does the long-term trend in ice breakup dates for these rivers.