Both parts of the Ring Road in South Iceland which were closed yesterday due to the violent storm, have now been re-opened. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority and ICE-SAR warn that driving conditions in the area are still extremely challenging, due to powerful wind gusts and the danger of sand storms. People driving small light vehicles or RVs are adviced NOT to drive east of Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
Ring Road re-opened, but still dangerous
The road between Seljalandsfoss and the village Vík was re-opened early this morning, and shortly after 10:00 the road between Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and Skaftafell visitor center in the Vatnajökull National Park was opened as well. Both stretches of the Ring Road were closed to traffic yesterday around noon.
Read more: 48 foreign travellers on day-trips to S.Iceland spent the night in emergency shelter in Vík
The IRCA warns that the storm which has been raging in the area since yesterday has only calmed down slightly, and it might pick up again later today. In that case the IRCA stands ready to close the Ring Road again. RVs and light vehicles should under no circumstances attempt to pass between Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.'
Challenging or dangerous conditions on heaths
Other roads which had been closed to traffic yesterday, due to the storm, have also been opened. Steingrímsfjarðarheiði heath, connecting W. Iceland and the Westfjords has been re-opened.
Still, drivers are cautioned that conditions on the Ring Road where it crosses heaths are difficult. This includes Öxnadalsheiði heath, between Skagafjörður fjord and Eyjafjörður fjord in N. Iceland. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that a tour bus skidded off the road earlier this morning, ending sideways across the road, blocking traffic. The bus has been towed off the road, but drivers are warned that conditions on the heath remain difficult.
Before heading out:
- Check the weather and road conditions on all major roads at with the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration.
- Check the weather forecast with the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
- Check for travel alerts or warnings from ICE-SAR at safetravel.is.
- Remember that road conditions are different along the coast than on mountain or heath roads.
- Remember that individual wind gusts can become extremely powerful along steep mountain slopes.
- Remember that the Ring Road can become impassable due to storms, even during spring.
And finally: Buckle up, respect the speed limit and remember that Icelandic roads don't have shoulders: If you lose control of the vehicle for even just a short moment you can easily suffer a rollover. The leading cause of fatal road accidents among foreign travellers in Iceland are roll-overs where the driver or passengers are not buckled up.
Both parts of the Ring Road in South Iceland which were closed yesterday due to the violent storm, have now been re-opened. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority and ICE-SAR warn that driving conditions in the area are still extremely challenging, due to powerful wind gusts and the danger of sand storms. People driving small light vehicles or RVs are adviced NOT to drive east of Seljalandsfoss waterfall.
Ring Road re-opened, but still dangerous
The road between Seljalandsfoss and the village Vík was re-opened early this morning, and shortly after 10:00 the road between Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and Skaftafell visitor center in the Vatnajökull National Park was opened as well. Both stretches of the Ring Road were closed to traffic yesterday around noon.
Read more: 48 foreign travellers on day-trips to S.Iceland spent the night in emergency shelter in Vík
The IRCA warns that the storm which has been raging in the area since yesterday has only calmed down slightly, and it might pick up again later today. In that case the IRCA stands ready to close the Ring Road again. RVs and light vehicles should under no circumstances attempt to pass between Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.'
Challenging or dangerous conditions on heaths
Other roads which had been closed to traffic yesterday, due to the storm, have also been opened. Steingrímsfjarðarheiði heath, connecting W. Iceland and the Westfjords has been re-opened.
Still, drivers are cautioned that conditions on the Ring Road where it crosses heaths are difficult. This includes Öxnadalsheiði heath, between Skagafjörður fjord and Eyjafjörður fjord in N. Iceland. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that a tour bus skidded off the road earlier this morning, ending sideways across the road, blocking traffic. The bus has been towed off the road, but drivers are warned that conditions on the heath remain difficult.
Before heading out:
- Check the weather and road conditions on all major roads at with the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration.
- Check the weather forecast with the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
- Check for travel alerts or warnings from ICE-SAR at safetravel.is.
- Remember that road conditions are different along the coast than on mountain or heath roads.
- Remember that individual wind gusts can become extremely powerful along steep mountain slopes.
- Remember that the Ring Road can become impassable due to storms, even during spring.
And finally: Buckle up, respect the speed limit and remember that Icelandic roads don't have shoulders: If you lose control of the vehicle for even just a short moment you can easily suffer a rollover. The leading cause of fatal road accidents among foreign travellers in Iceland are roll-overs where the driver or passengers are not buckled up.
