Avalanche warnings and safety measures
Longyearbyen and the surrounding areas are prone to avalanches. These include mudslides, landslides, and snow avalanches.
Below you can read more about the local avalanche warning service in Longyearbyen and the safety measures that have been put in place to protect against avalanches and flooding. You will also find the Overall Plan for Avalanche Protection in Longyearbyen.
The regional avalanche warning from varsom.no can be found in the menu on the right.
Local avalanche warnings
About local avalanche warnings
The local avalanche warning covers areas in Longyearbyen that are prone to avalanches. The warning is issued during the period from November 1 to May 31.
From autumn 2024, Longyearbyen Local Council (LL) took over responsibility for the local avalanche warning service in Longyearbyen. The avalanche warning service is provided by Skred AS on behalf of LL, and UNIS provides local avalanche observation services for Skred AS.
Follow-up and measures
During the warning period, daily avalanche warning reports are prepared and shared with the Governor of Svalbard, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), and the Longyearbyen Local Council.
If the avalanche warning reports indicate a risk of avalanches, the Governor, NVE, Skred AS, and LL will meet for a joint assessment. The Governor of Svalbard has the authority to decide on traffic bans or evacuations.
In the event of a traffic ban or evacuation, both the Governor and LL will use their regular channels to inform the population, including our websites and the citizen app. In the event of an acute danger to life and health, it may be appropriate to send out a population alert via SMS.
Strategic plan for avalanche protection in Longyearbyen 2020-2024
The overall plan for avalanche protection in Longyearbyen was last revised in 2020. The plan will be revised as soon as the knowledge base on avalanche risk from NVE has been updated. The overall plan for avalanche protection in Longyearbyen 2020-2024 External link, opens in new window. remains in force until further notice.
Safety measures for landslides and flooding
Over the years, there have been several landslides in and around Longyearbyen. These have included mudslides, landslides, and avalanches. After two very serious avalanches hit Lia in 2015 and 2017, it was decided that permanent safety measures should be put in place.
Between 2018 and 2024, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate has been responsible for the construction of several measures to reduce the risk of landslides and floods reaching the settlement:
- Support structures (totaling 2,000 meters) on Sukkertoppen to prevent snow slides
- Snow fences at the bottom of Sukkertoppen to prevent snow from sliding over the pointed houses
- A 400-meter-long and up to 6-meter-high avalanche barrier that protects the settlement from both residual avalanches and landslides
- 14 flood control nets in Vannledningsdalen to slow down debris flows by retaining masses but allowing water to pass through.
- Measures along and in the Longyear River to control flood water and erosion
The operation and maintenance of these structures is now the responsibility of the Longyearbyen local government.
Climate change increases the likelihood of natural events such as landslides, flooding, and erosion. Several areas in Longyearbyen are still prone to landslides. The Longyearbyen Local Council therefore has an agreement with Skred AS, which issues daily local landslide warnings from November 1 to May 31.
Read more about the landslide warning in the drop-down menu further up on this page.
Updated