A violent blizzard swept across Iceland yesterday. The storm hit the west and northwest especially hard. Almost 400 people, mostly students from the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University, became stranded at Ring road 1 restaurant and gas station Staðarskáli in Hrútafjörður fjord last night after Holtavörðuheiði mountain road became impassable.
People rescued from cars stuck in snow on the south side of the mountain pass were transferred to Bifröst village in West Iceland.
At Keflavík International Airport planes could not park at the terminal due to the extreme weather, keeping passengers on board for an extended period.
The weather has calmed down a little bit and employers of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration are working hard on opening roads again.
Embedded below is a video captured by a camera attached to the uniform of a police officer on a help and rescue mission in North Iceland last night, showing the severe conditions. At one point the policeman can be heard shouting the car blew away!
Forecast from the Icelandic Met Office:
Southwest 5 to 13 m/s (11-29 mph) and occasional snow showers, but fair in the east part. Light frost. South 8 to 15 m/s (18-34 mph) after noon with sleet and later rain in the south and west parts, but light snow for a while in the northeastern part by evening. Rising temperature for a while. More westerly tomorrow and snow shower in the afternoon, mainly in the south and west parts. Temperature around freezing point.
A violent blizzard swept across Iceland yesterday. The storm hit the west and northwest especially hard. Almost 400 people, mostly students from the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University, became stranded at Ring road 1 restaurant and gas station Staðarskáli in Hrútafjörður fjord last night after Holtavörðuheiði mountain road became impassable.
People rescued from cars stuck in snow on the south side of the mountain pass were transferred to Bifröst village in West Iceland.
At Keflavík International Airport planes could not park at the terminal due to the extreme weather, keeping passengers on board for an extended period.
The weather has calmed down a little bit and employers of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration are working hard on opening roads again.
Embedded below is a video captured by a camera attached to the uniform of a police officer on a help and rescue mission in North Iceland last night, showing the severe conditions. At one point the policeman can be heard shouting the car blew away!
Forecast from the Icelandic Met Office:
Southwest 5 to 13 m/s (11-29 mph) and occasional snow showers, but fair in the east part. Light frost. South 8 to 15 m/s (18-34 mph) after noon with sleet and later rain in the south and west parts, but light snow for a while in the northeastern part by evening. Rising temperature for a while. More westerly tomorrow and snow shower in the afternoon, mainly in the south and west parts. Temperature around freezing point.
