The road to town Ólafsfjörður in North Iceland has been closed due to risk of avalanches. The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reports that there is a considerable danger of avalanches in the area, called Tröllaskagi peninsula. According to IMO’s avalanche forecast, there is also a considerable danger in the North of the Westfjords and in the East Fjords.
No towns or habituated areas are in danger put those who intend to travel in the backcountry of these areas should be very careful.
You can follow road conditions around Iceland live via the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration’s (IRCA) web cams.
IMO publishes a daily avalanche forecast for three areas in Iceland that have a long history of dangerous avalanches. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 16 (4am) IMO also issues a special avalanche bulletin in Icelandic for these three selected areas.
A specific map is presented for each of three selected high risk areas. Additionally, a comment on overall avalanche conditions in Iceland and a general weather forecast in terms of avalanche danger is given in English. As as pointed out on IMO’s website it should be kept in mind that the avalanche forecast is written for large areas and does not necessarily represent avalanche danger in urban areas.
On IMO's avalanche forecast maps, an international colour code is used. The table and the icons are from European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS).
Read more: 20 years since avalanche hit Súðavík, killing 14 people
The Avalanche Danger Scale
LOW
The snowpack is well bonded and stable in general.
MODERATE
The snowpack is only moderately well bonded on some steep slopes*, otherwise well bonded in general.
CONSIDIRABLE
The snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes*.
HIGH
The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes.
VERY-HIGH
The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable in general.
The road to town Ólafsfjörður in North Iceland has been closed due to risk of avalanches. The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reports that there is a considerable danger of avalanches in the area, called Tröllaskagi peninsula. According to IMO’s avalanche forecast, there is also a considerable danger in the North of the Westfjords and in the East Fjords.
No towns or habituated areas are in danger put those who intend to travel in the backcountry of these areas should be very careful.
You can follow road conditions around Iceland live via the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration’s (IRCA) web cams.
IMO publishes a daily avalanche forecast for three areas in Iceland that have a long history of dangerous avalanches. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 16 (4am) IMO also issues a special avalanche bulletin in Icelandic for these three selected areas.
A specific map is presented for each of three selected high risk areas. Additionally, a comment on overall avalanche conditions in Iceland and a general weather forecast in terms of avalanche danger is given in English. As as pointed out on IMO’s website it should be kept in mind that the avalanche forecast is written for large areas and does not necessarily represent avalanche danger in urban areas.
On IMO's avalanche forecast maps, an international colour code is used. The table and the icons are from European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS).
Read more: 20 years since avalanche hit Súðavík, killing 14 people
The Avalanche Danger Scale
LOW
The snowpack is well bonded and stable in general.
MODERATE
The snowpack is only moderately well bonded on some steep slopes*, otherwise well bonded in general.
CONSIDIRABLE
The snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes*.
HIGH
The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes.
VERY-HIGH
The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable in general.
