In pictures: Nordic states gripped by winter freeze
![](https://english.alsiasi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/132194491_gettyimages-1893773398.jpg-780x470.webp)
Nordic countries have recorded their coldest temperatures of the winter, with areas of Sweden and Finland dropping to as low as -40C this week. Here we select some of the most striking photos of the winter freeze.
![Heavy snowfall in Stockholm, Sweden](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1995/production/_132194560_gettyimages-1894902812.jpg)
The Nordic states are used to cold winters but in Sweden it is rare for temperatures to plummet below -40C
![A dog walker in the Swedish village of Vittangi, where temperatures have dropped as low as -30C](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8B4B/production/_132195653_b45c5286d213af46489cb9ffcf0dfe8576d29aae0_0_5669_37801000x667.jpg)
Sweden’s far north is seeing some of its iciest temperatures for years – here in Vittangi temperatures have dropped as low as -30C
![A runner jogs past Stockholm City Hall, Sweden, on 2 January.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/B25B/production/_132195654_gettyimages-1895188671.jpg)
A few joggers in the capital Stockholm have braved the snow and wind
![A man gets out from a swim in Helsinki, Finland, in weather of -15C.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4BF9/production/_132194491_gettyimages-1893773398.jpg)
This man was not prepared to give up his swim in Helsinki, although some places in Finland have recorded their lowest winter temperatures
![A man walks on the frozen sea in Helsinki, Finland.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/40A5/production/_132194561_gettyimages-1893778156.jpg)
A man walks on the frozen sea in Helsinki
![People remove snow from a car in Kristiansand, Norway, on 2 January.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1271D/production/_132194557_gettyimages-1893952210.jpg)
Heavy snowfall has blanketed parts of southern Norway since New Year’s Day. Here people remove snow from a car in Kristiansand
![Cyclists in Aalborg, Denmark, during heavy snowfall. Some parts of eastern Denmark could see up to 70cm (26 inches) of snow by Thursday.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1000D/production/_132194556_gettyimages-1895745292.jpg)
Some parts of eastern Denmark could see up to 70cm (26 inches) of snow by Thursday. These cyclists defied a snowstorm in Aalborg
![A snowplough clears snow from a road in Aalborg, Denmark](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/643B/production/_132195652_47a29c943fd5f28871658fbc4e46b3bd26268b830_0_4720_29441000x624.jpg)
In several parts of Denmark, including Jutland, police have urged the public to avoid the roads if possible
![A person stands at a bus stop amid heavy snow in Randers, Denmark](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/999/cpsprodpb/D96B/production/_132195655_7c60cc9dca122e008f45551e2a8d538982401dc10_0_8240_54931000x667.jpg)
Buses continued to operate in the Danish town of Randers but the armed forces were deployed in the region to help emergency services