Copenhagen, Jan 31 (AP) Norway's central Atlantic coast battened down on Wednesday as authorities warned that the country could see its most powerful storm in three decades and urged people to stay indoors.

Hurricane-force winds are expected to hit the region, as air traffic companies and ferry lines predicted disruptions. Police warned that gusts of 126 to 180 kilometres per hour were expected.

Also Read | Neel Acharya Death Case: No Signs of Trauma or Injuries Found on Indian Student's Body During Autopsy, Says US County Coroner.

Named “Ingunn” by Norwegian meteorologists, the storm was expected to land in central Norway around midday Wednesday before moving north Thursday.

The storm is expected to hit the same area as the 1992 New Year's hurricane, one of the strongest storms in Norway's history, the newspaper VG wrote.

Also Read | Toshakhana Case: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, Wife Bushra Bibi Sentenced to 14 Years in Jail.

Authorities issued a red warning, the highest level, for the area around the city of Trondheim, where strong winds were expected Wednesday. Another red warning also was issued for the Lofoten islands, up north along the coast in the Arctic.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre planned to return to Oslo on Wednesday, the Norwegian news agency NTB wrote.

No flights were cancelled as of Wednesday morning, but spokeswoman Catharina Solli of the domestic airline Wideroe said that they ”take it airport by airport as we go along," NTB wrote.

Police asked people to avoid going outside if possible, and to watch for flying objects when doing so. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)