In sub-zero temperatures, the ice thickens in fjords and the narrow straits along the coast of southern Norway. Throughout the winter season, we monitor and report on the ice situation from the Swedish border in the east to Rogaland in the southwest.
Ice reports
See our latest updates on ice for individual ports and fairways last update 20.12.2024.
AA1 0/// Sekken (Halden).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
AA2 0/// Singlefjorden (Halden).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
AA3 0/// Svinesund - Halden (Halden).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
AA4 0/// Torbjørnskjær (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
AA5 0/// Struten (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
AA6 0/// Løperen (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
BB1 0/// Østerelva (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
BB2 0/// Leira (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
BB3 0/// Vesterelva (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
BB4 0/// Rauøyfjorden (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
BB5 0/// Verlebukta (Moss).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
BB6 0/// Mossesundet (Moss).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
CC1 0/// Oslo - Spro (Oslo).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
CC2 0/// Spro - Drøbak (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
CC3 0/// Drøbak - Filtvet (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
CC4 0/// Filtvet - Gullholmen (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Filipstad/Hjortnes.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Pipevika/Akershuskai.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Vippetangen.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Revier kaia/Bjørvika.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Østhavna-Bispevika/Sørenga.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Østhavna-Grønlia.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Østhavna-Kongshavn/Sjursøya N.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Sydhavna-S.Sjursøykai/Tank utst.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
0/// Port of Oslo-Sydhavna-Bekkelaget/OrmsundIce-free. 01.12.2024 |
CC5 0/// Drammensfjorden (Drammen).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
CC6 0/// Breiangen (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024 |
DD1 0/// Langrunnen (Horten).Ice-free. 20.12.2024 |
DD2 0/// Gullholmen - Mefjordbåen (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024 |
DD3 0/// Mefjordbåen - Fulehuk (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024 |
DD4 0/// Fulehuk - Færder (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024 |
DD5 0/// West Færder (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
DD6 0/// South Færder (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
EE1 0/// Torgersøygapet (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024 |
EE2 0/// Husøysund (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024 |
EE3 8041 Tønsberg indre havn (Tønsberg).Fast ice.New ice. Less than 5 cm.Vast or giant ice floes. More than 2000m across.Navigation difficult or dangerous for wooden vessels without ice sheathing. 12.12.2024 |
EE4 0/// Vestfjorden (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024 |
EE5 0/// Leisteinløpet (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024 |
EE6 0/// Vrengen (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024 |
FF1 0/// Tjømekjæla (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024 |
FF2 0/// Sandefjorden (Sandefjord).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
FF3 0/// Inside Svenner (Sandefjord).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
FF4 0/// Outside Svenner (Sandefjord).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
FF5 0/// Larviksfjorden (Larvik).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
FF6 0/// Langesundsbukta (Porsgrunn).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
GG1 0/// Breviksfjorden (Porsgrunn).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
GG2 0/// Frierfjorden (Porsgrunn).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
GG3 0/// Jomfrulandsrenna (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
GG4 0/// Outside Jomfruland (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
GG5 0/// Skåtøysund (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
GG6 0/// Langårsund (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
HH1 0/// Kragerøfjorden (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
0/// Kilsfjorden (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
0/// Hellefjorden (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024 |
HH2 0/// Grønholmsgapet (Risør).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
HH3 0/// Stangholmgapet (Risør).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
HH4 0/// Lyngørfjorden (Tvedestrand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
HH5 0/// Outside Lyngør (Tvedestrand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
HH6 0/// Tvedestrandsfjorden (Tvedestrand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
II1 0/// Tromøysund (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
II2 0/// Galtesund (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
II3 0/// Inside Torungen (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
II4 0/// Outside Torungen (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
II5 0/// Grimstad (Grimstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
II6 0/// Inside Homborsund (Grimstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
JJ1 0/// Outside Homborsund (Grimstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
JJ2 0/// Lillesand (Lillesand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
JJ3 0/// Kristiansandsfjorden (Kristiansand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
JJ4 0/// Outside Oksøy (Kristiansand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
JJ5 0/// Farsund.Ice-free. 03.12.2024 |
KK1 0/// Sauda Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
LL1 0/// Nærøyfjorden.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
MM1 0/// Surnadalsfjorden.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
NN1 0/// Beistadfjorden.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
NN2 0/// Follafoss.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
OO1 0/// Namsos.Ice-free. 01.12.2024 |
PP1 7732 Kirkenes Havn (Sør Varanger).Fast ice with pack ice outside.Ice predominately thinner than 15 cm.Big ice floes. 500-2000m across.Navigation difficult for unstrengthened or low-powered vessels built of iron or steel. Navigation for wooden vessels even with ice sheathing not advisable. 20.12.2024 |
PP2 2221 Bøkfjorden (Sør Varanger).Very open pack ice. 1/10-4/10 ice.Grey ice. 10-15 cm.Medium ice floes. 100-500m across.Navigation difficult or dangerous for wooden vessels without ice sheathing. 20.12.2024 |
Area codes
Kode |
Område |
Kode |
Område |
AA1 |
Sekken (Halden) |
FF4 |
Outside Svenner (Sandefjord) |
AA2 |
Singlefjorden (Halden) |
FF5 |
Larviksfjorden (Larvik) |
AA3 |
Svinesund - Halden (Halden) |
FF6 |
Langesundsbukta (Porsgrunn) |
AA4 |
Torbjørnskjær (Oslofjorden) |
GG1 |
Breviksfjorden (Porsgrunn) |
AA5 |
Struten (Oslofjorden) |
GG2 |
Frierfjorden (Porsgrunn) |
AA6 |
Løperen (Fredrikstad) |
GG3 |
Jomfrulandsrenna (Kragerø) |
BB1 |
Østerelva (Fredrikstad) |
GG4 |
Outside Jomfruland (Kragerø) |
BB2 |
Leira (Fredrikstad) |
GG5 |
Skåtøysund (Kragerø) |
BB3 |
Vesterelva (Fredrikstad) |
GG6 |
Langårsund (Kragerø) |
BB4 |
Rauøyfjorden (Oslofjorden) |
HH1 |
Kragerøfjorden (Kragerø) |
BB5 |
Verlebukta (Moss) |
HH2 |
Grønholmsgapet (Risør) |
BB6 |
Mossesundet (Moss) |
HH3 |
Stangholmgapet (Risør) |
CC1 |
Oslo - Spro (Oslo) |
HH4 |
Lyngørfjorden (Tvedestrand) |
CC2 |
Spro - Drøbak (Oslofjorden) |
HH5 |
Outside Lyngør (Tvedestrand) |
CC3 |
Drøbak - Filtvet (Oslofjorden) |
HH6 |
Tvedestrandsfjorden (Tvedestrand) |
CC4 |
Filtvet - Gullholmen (Oslofjorden) |
II1 |
Tromøysund (Arendal) |
CC5 |
Drammensfjorden (Drammen) |
II2 |
Galtesund (Arendal) |
CC6 |
Breiangen (Oslofjorden) |
II3 |
Inside Torungen (Arendal) |
DD1 |
Langrunnen (Horten) |
II4 |
Outside Torungen (Arendal) |
DD2 |
Gullholmen - Mefjordbåen (Oslofjorden) |
II5 |
Grimstad (Grimstad) |
DD3 |
Mefjordbåen - Fulehuk (Oslofjorden) |
II6 |
Inside Homborsund (Grimstad) |
DD4 |
Fulehuk - Færder (Oslofjorden) |
JJ1 |
Outside Homborsund (Grimstad) |
DD5 |
West Færder (Oslofjorden) |
JJ2 |
Lillesand (Lillesand) |
DD6 |
South Færder (Oslofjorden) |
JJ3 |
Kristiansandsfjorden (Kristiansand) |
EE1 |
Torgersøygapet (Tønsberg) |
JJ4 |
Outside Oksøy (Kristiansand) |
EE2 |
Husøysund (Tønsberg) |
KK1 |
Sauda |
EE3 |
Tønsberg indre havn (Tønsberg) |
LL1 |
Nærøyfjorden |
EE4 |
Vestfjorden (Tønsberg) |
MM1 |
Beistadfjorden |
EE5 |
Leisteinløpet (Tønsberg) |
MM2 |
Follafoss |
EE6 |
Vrengen (Tønsberg) |
NN1 |
Namsos |
FF1 |
Tjømekjæla (Tønsberg) |
PP1 |
Kirkenes Havn(Sør Varanger) |
FF2 |
Sandefjorden (Sandefjord) |
PP2 |
Bøkfjorden(Sør Varanger) |
FF3 |
Inside Svenner (Sandefjord) |
|
|
Ice codes
The Norwegian Ice Service provides ice codes from ”The Baltic Sea Ice Code”. The code consists of four sections; AB-SB-TB-KB. See description below.
Please see ”The Baltic Sea Ice Code” for more detailed description and images of ice types. A complete ice report consists of an area code followed by an ice code (for example CC1 4111).
|
Amount and arrangement of Sea ice. |
SB 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 / |
Stage of development (ice thickness) New ice. Less than 5cm. Light nilas. 5-10cm. Grey ice. 10-15cm. Grey-white ice. 15-30cm. White ice, first stage. 30-50cm. White ice, second stage. 50-70cm. Medium first year ice. 70-120cm. Ice predominately thinner than 15cm. Ice predominately 15-30cm. Ice predominately thicker than 30cm. No info. or unable to report. |
TB 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 / |
Topography or form of ice Pancake ice, ice cakes, brash ice. Less than 20m across. Small ice floes. 20-100m across. Medium ice floes. 100-500m across. Big ice floes. 500-2000m across. Vast or giant ice floes. More than 2000m across. Rafted ice. Compacted slush or shuga, or compacted brash ice. Hummocked or ridged ice. Thaw holes or many puddles on ice. Rotten ice. No information or unable to report. |
KB |
Navigation conditions in ice. |
Ice class
Swedish – Finnish Ice Class |
Det norske Veritas Ice Class |
For navigation in |
Istykkelse |
1A Super
|
ICE-1A*
|
Extremely difficult ice-conditions Ekstreme isforhold |
› 100 cm
|
1A |
ICE-1A |
Difficult ice-conditions Vanskelige isforhold |
› 50 - 100 cm |
1B |
ICE-1B |
Moderately difficult ice-conditions Moderate isforhold |
30 – 50 cm |
1C |
ICE-1C |
Easy ice-conditions Lette isforhold |
15 – 30 cm |
II
|
ICE-C |
Very easy ice-conditions |
10 – 15 cm |
Icebreaking
When the ice thickens and settles, the Norwegian Coastal Administration ensures that icebreakers clear the way. Icebreakers in Norway are private tugboats that are particularly suitable for icebreaking. During severe winters, we mobilize more resources from the Coast Guard, the Norwegian Coastal Administration and other private enterprises.
It is our responsibilty to keep the main and secondary fairways navigable. Port areas and the municipalities' sea areas are otherwise the responsibility of the municipalities / port authorities.
BIM
Norway is a member of BIM (Baltic Icebreaker Management), an international icebreaker collaboration involving Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany and Denmark. The cooperation seeks to increase competence and cooperation between the nations.