Fell walkers have been urged to rethink their Easter plans as Cumbria braces for extreme conditions caused by Storm Dave, according to BBC News. A yellow weather warning for wind for Cumbria is in effect from 14:00 BST through to Sunday. The Mountain Weather Information Service warns gusts could blow you over even at mid-heights and predicts gusts of 70-80mph (113-129 km/h) on higher fells.
Recent rescues on Scafell Pike underscore the risks. Richard Warren from Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said his colleagues had a pretty horrendous night on Thursday rescuing two teenagers and a couple in two mammoth rescues near Scafell Pike. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team warned conditions on the fells would be challenging and potentially dangerous. Two calls came through at about 20:00 on Thursday for rescues near Scafell Pike. The first rescue involved 24 volunteers from three teams helping two teenagers who had got lost on Scafell Pike, described as demanding. The second rescue involved a young couple who were lost and stuck in snow near the same summit, with 27 team members out early in the morning. A helicopter was called in from Prestwick in Ayrshire but had to turn back because of the weather conditions.
In Norway, multiple mountain rescues occurred over the weekend. Two 17-year-olds were rescued in a rescue operation early Sunday morning after becoming weather-stranded on a mountain top in Bjørnafjorden in Vestland, according to multiple reports. It was a girl and a boy aged 17 who around 18:30 reported themselves weather-stranded on the top of Sveningen, which is 842 meters above sea level, in Os in Bjørnafjorden. According to police, there was a lot of snow and fog on the top. A rescue operation was initiated, and representatives from the Red Cross went up to assist the 17-year-olds, who were safely down again just after 4:00 early Sunday morning. Police said the distressed individuals have finally come down and been taken care of by family, thanking the volunteers from the Red Cross for very good assistance. Separately, a rescue helicopter is on its way to a mountain area in Nordfjordeid in Stad, according to multiple reports. Three youths are stuck in a mountain cliff on the mountain Eggene after sliding down on the snow during a hike. The three cannot get up or down, but are all conscious. The plan is to hoist the youths out of the mountain with a helicopter.
In Alaska, a nine-year-old and three men aged 20, 49, and 55 have been rescued from an ice floe after being stuck for 24 hours during a seal hunting expedition. The US Coast Guard confirmed the rescue that occurred on Sunday (12 April), calling it one of the most challenging missions the helicopter crew has ever flown. Footage from the helicopter shows the fishing boat in the middle of the ice, roughly 10 miles west of Chefornak, with the three adults and child airlifted to safety. The group was on a seal hunting expedition and requested Coast Guard assistance on the Saturday.
In another Norwegian incident, police reported that two tourists on a mountain hike received assistance in the area of Preikestolen. Police received the report at 20:30. Around 01:23, police reported that volunteer personnel have gotten the two down in good condition. It was dark and the tourists were tired and cold. They are said to have gotten access to an emergency shelter.
The series of rescues highlights ongoing risks in mountainous and remote areas during volatile weather. The exact weather conditions that caused the helicopter to turn back during the Scafell Pike rescue have not been detailed. The current status of the three youths stuck on Eggene mountain in Nordfjordeid remains unclear as rescue efforts continue. Specific injuries or medical conditions sustained by the rescued individuals in the various incidents have not been confirmed. It is unknown how many total rescue operations are currently ongoing or have occurred in the past 24 hours across all reported regions. Preventive measures or warnings issued to the public before these incidents occurred vary by location, with Cumbria authorities issuing explicit weather alerts.