The self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström experienced a grueling 20-hour wait due to snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway this past Wednesday and Thursday, describing the conditions as the most severe he has faced in his 30-year career.
Unexpected Standstill
Having operated his own freight business since the 1990s, Nordström was caught off guard when he encountered a blockage on the E22 around 1:45 PM near Linderöd, along with about 1,000 other drivers. He had assumed the traffic jam would have been cleared by the time he set out.
Regret Over Assumptions
“I thought the police would have already diverted traffic,” shared the 58-year-old with The Local. “I didn’t give it much thought. If there had been a bit more quick-thinking, we could have avoided this long queue.”
Stranded Vehicles
As a blizzard struck the area, nearly 1,000 vehicles were immobilized between Hörby and Kristianstad. The Armed Forces were called in to assist stranded drivers by providing evacuations as well as food and water supplies.
A Difficult Night
With only a day cab in his truck, Nordström found it uncomfortable to sleep upright at the wheel, though he had a slight advantage over those in smaller cars. He was heading to Lund in Skåne, then home to Olofström, but found himself without food or medicine, relying on assistance from fellow stranded motorists.
Kindness Amid Hardships
A couple from Holland offered Nordström help after he expressed his hunger, inviting him for coffee and a sandwich. Throughout the night, he frequently checked the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on when the road might reopen.
Improvising a Way Out
As time passed, the reopening times for the road kept getting pushed back—first to 8 PM, then midnight, followed by 2 AM, and finally 2 PM the next day. Ultimately, around 10 AM, a local farmer assisted the Dutchman in clearing a three-meter-wide path in the snow, allowing them to exit the motorway.
Unforgettable Conditions
Driving against the flow but within a clear path, Nordström noted how unprecedented the snow conditions were. “I’ve never encountered anything like this in my 30-year career. The last time Skåne experienced such severe weather was in 1979,” he recalled.
