Flooding in Vesterålen

The latest Nordland / Lofoten news from the past 48 hours has been dominated by heavy rain and winds that hit Nordland county. In Sortland, in Vesterålen, emergency crews were still pumping water out of several buildings in the town centre, while the state meteorologist said the worst of the storm had passed. Also making regional news are the delayed Torghatten hydrogen ferries and Narvik’s withdrawal from hosting the women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup in 2027.

Flooding in Vesterålen: Nordland / Lofoten news amid heavy rain

Heavy precipitation and strong winds have caused major travel disruption in northern Norway over the past 24 hours (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). In Sortland, water rose above the drains and entered several basements and commercial buildings in the town centre. Emergency services have been deployed on missions ranging from Vestmarka to buildings in the city centre.

“It is critical. For now, we can barely keep up with all the emergency calls,” said Lodve Riise, operations manager at Sortland Fire and Rescue Department (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). He said reserve rescue equipment (RVR) had been requisitioned from Harstad to remove the water. “This could turn into a long night,” he added. Responders fear lasting damage if water enters electrical cabinets. Several lifts are underwater, and the main electricity supply is flooded in several buildings, according to the operations manager.

State meteorologist Christoffer Taraldsen of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute believes the strongest winds have probably passed “for this time” (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). He reports that the storm affected large parts of Nordland and Troms, but the winds are now moving further north. Conditions at Nordkapp remained those of a full storm, with gusts of around 35 metres per second. Rain is expected to stop in Nordland during the night, and Tuesday morning should be dry in Troms. Nordland will see more varied weather during the week, with possible light precipitation on Thursday and Friday.

Hydrogen ferries: Torghatten targets launch next summer

Torghatten’s much-anticipated Lofoten hydrogen ferry project has been delayed. Technical director Eirik Olsen said in a statement that the project has been “significantly delayed” and that the ferry company is looking forward to putting the new ferries into service (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). Hydrogen was originally due to replace liquefied natural gas as fuel on the Lofoten ferries from New Year 2024. The launch was subsequently postponed to 1 October 2025, before being delayed again. Biofuel production has also faced supply difficulties, according to the source.

Torghatten now expects the first hydrogen-capable ferry, the MF “Moskenes”, to enter service next summer on the Bodø–Værøy–Røst–Moskenes route. Delivery is expected between May and June. The ferry company hopes to thereby put several years of delays behind it.

Narvik withdraws from hosting women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup in 2027

The board of Narvik VM 2029 has decided to give up responsibility for organising the women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup events scheduled for Narvik in March 2027 (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). “This is of course an unwanted decision, but at the same time entirely undramatic,” said Eirik Frantzen, chair of the board of Narvik 2029 AS. He said completing the venue by 2027 was too ambitious.

The decision follows a comprehensive assessment of the risks involved in hosting a World Cup at an entirely new venue as early as 2027. On 9 October, representatives of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) inspected the site. Their verdict was negative: “nothing is ready” at Narvikfjellet, according to the FIS race director quoted by NRK Nordland / Lofoten. The source also states that the event will not be held in Narvik.

Sport and business: Bodø/Glimt optimistic before Napoli, minister appeals to hotels

In Naples, Bodø/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen was optimistic about Ole Didrik Blomberg returning to the squad before the match against Napoli (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). “We are very optimistic about him returning, but we have to test him in training,” he said at a press conference. He expects a Napoli side that will play at a high tempo and stresses that Glimt must be brave, defend as a team and impose their own conditions.

On the economic front, new figures show strong profit margins for hotels in northern Norway, while hotel chains fear that the tourism tax could weaken their competitiveness (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). The Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has urged major chains to “reconsider,” according to the source.

📌 Local briefs

In Lofoten, a caravan was moved by a gust described as “a crazy blast” (Lofotposten). The trial of a person prosecuted for serious fraud connected to a project in Bodø is opening (Avisa Nordland). Several homes were sold for under 1 million kroner in Nordland in the latest sales figures (Avisa Nordland).

Sources: NRK Nordland / Lofoten, Avisa Nordland, Lofotposten, The Local Norway — Period: 19 October 2026 and 20 October 2026