Sverige får väder

Historical Context and Personal Reflection

The diary entry, written by Ulrika Wiss from Vibbyn i Norrbotten den 8 december 1999, gives a vivid, personal glimpse into Sweden’s dramatic weather at the time. Ulrika opens by commenting that Sweden really has had some weather lately. She references the väder (weather) seen in recent weeks—especially the orkanvindar (hurricane-force winds) battering southern Sweden. While the full impact is hard to grasp just from TV images, Ulrika suspects plenty of greenhouses and fruit trees were blown over, especially in Sydsverige (southern Sweden).

The Impact of Cyclone Anatol

Her entry comes just a few days after the infamous Cyclone Anatol—known as "Carolastormen" in Swedish media—swept across Denmark and southern Sweden on December 3, 1999. With hurricane-strength winds peaking at over 184 km/h, Anatol caused widespread destruction: roofs were torn away, trees fell, and severe infrastructural damage followed. Although Norrbotten, where Ulrika lives, escaped the harshest winds, the aftermath rippled across the nation and remains a recent memory for many Swedes at that time.

Weather Shifts in the North

Further north, Ulrika describes a rapid shift in weather. The snow she was so pleased with just the previous week quickly melted, abruptly exposing weeds—possibly prompting new gardening chores she hadn’t planned. But then the real cold arrived. With temperatures plunging to -23°C, it was a stark contrast even for northern Sweden after an unusually warm autumn. Thankfully, snow soon returned, acting as winter insulation for her perennials and bushes: now the temperature hovers around -15°C—“så som det ska vara,” she writes.

Humorous Reflections and Seasonal Planning

Perhaps inspired by the season (as well as recent, soaring elen-priser), Ulrika reflects humorously on her attempts to overwinter chile pepper plants. Despite a disastrous result in the garage the previous January (when a severe cold snap killed them all), she tries again—reluctant to drag huge pots inside, as she admits to being hopeless with houseplants anyway. Sometimes, she observes dryly, you never learn…

With winter and snow settled in and last season’s gardening pots cleaned and packed away, thoughts naturally turn to the next summer. Ulrika shares that she’s actually considering scaling down her cultivation efforts—at least temporarily—to finally prepare a bed for asparagus, a crop she’s long wanted to try. “Näringsrikt och sandigt, har jag läst.” Have any readers yet provat på att odla sparris? she wonders.

Looking Ahead to the Next Growing Season

The entry closes with a familiar sentiment for all gardeners observing a long Swedish winter: while the next growing season still feels far off, now is the time to plan, dream, and hope for a perfectly warm, damp, and lasting summer. But above all, Ulrika concludes, “Sverige får väder!”—reminding us that while we cannot quite control the elements, they will keep us interested year after year.

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