​Philip O’Connor, July 10 (Reuters) – Norway’s celebrated “row” celebration may have become one of the World Cup’s viral sensations in North America, but supporters in Oslo could find themselves wishing for waterproof gear when their team faces England in the quarter-finals on Saturday if heavy rain arrives as forecast. The enthusiasm for the tournament has seen tens of thousands of Norwegian fans gather outdoors during the team’s five matches, with crowds filling streets and squares to cheer on their side and share in the moment as they compete in their first men’s World Cup since 1998. Yet a weather warning issued on Friday morning for the southeast region of the country has officials and fans scrambling to adjust plans for Norway’s biggest World Cup match since the women’s team lifted the 1995 trophy.
Saturday afternoon and early evening are predicted to bring locally heavy rain showers accompanied by thunder, according to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, which issued a yellow weather warning. Some areas could experience more than 20 millimeters of rain in an hour. The forecast warns of potential stormwater in densely populated districts and the risk of water seeping into basements. Localized flooding, shifts in streams and river courses, landslides, and flash floods are possible where the heaviest downpours occur.
The rainfall on Saturday will test the team’s weather-inspired maxim, “there’s no bad weather, only bad clothes.” One glimmer of good news for organizers of outdoor screenings is that the rain is expected to ease around 8:00 p.m. local time (18:00 GMT), with the match in Miami scheduled to kick off at 11 p.m. Reporting by Philip O’Connor; editing by Toby Chopra.