A Weather Alert has been issued for most of Iceland tomorrow, as an intense storm front passes over the island. The Icelandic Meteorological Office and the Road and Coastal Authority have issued a warning to travellers in the Capital Region and on roads leading out of Reykjavík. The storm is expected to bring both strong winds and snow, sleet and rain, causing extremely limited visibility.
Conditions lin these storms can become very dangerous to drivers, especially drivers who are not accustomed to Icelandic winter conditions.
Read more: Iceland police stop crazed foreign traveller: Was driving at 155 kmh (96 mph) on icy road
The IRCA has now issued a list of roads it expects to close due to the storm: Several parts of the Ring Road, including the Ring Road out of Reykjavík, are expected to be closed to all traffic in the morning. The highway from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport is also expected to be closed to traffic, as well as roads leading to Þingvellir National Park.
Travellers should therefore adjust their travel plans accordingly.
Roads near Reykjavík:
Ring Road across Hellisheiði heath and Þrengslin mountain pass closed from 6:00 and 12:00 – 13:00
Ring Road in foothills of Mt Esja between 8:00 and 11:00
Ring Road in foothills of Hafnarfjall mountain between 7:00 and 11:00
Highway from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport between 7:00 and 11:00
Roads to Þingvellir National Park, Mosfellsheiði and Lyngdalsheiði heaths between 6:00 and 12:00 – 13:00
Roads in South Iceland
The entire Ring Road in South Iceland, to the village Vík will be closed between 7:00 and 12:00 – 13:00. The IRCA has not announced where the closures will be placed, but drivers should avoid being in the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull at this time.
Roads in West and North Iceland
The IRCA expects most major roads in West, North West and North Iceland to be closed to all traffic from early morning until early afternoon. This includes roads in Snæfellsnes peninsula which will be closed from 7:00-13:00 and the Westfjords, closed from 9:00-14:00 as well as roads in North West Iceland, which will be closed from 9:00-15:00, and North East Iceland, which will be closed from 10:00 to 17:00.
Travellers are advised that the Ring Road across Holtavörðuheiði heath, which separates North and West Iceland, as well as Öxnadalsheiði heath, which separates Skagafjörður fjord from Eyjafjörður fjord. Holtavörðuheiði will be closed from 8:00-13:00, while Öxnadalsheiði will be closed 9:00-15:00.
East Iceland
The IRCA expects major roads in East Iceland to close around noon and remain closed until early morning on Thursday.
People are also advised to expect other roads to close without warning as the storm unfolds.
A Weather Alert has been issued for most of Iceland tomorrow, as an intense storm front passes over the island. The Icelandic Meteorological Office and the Road and Coastal Authority have issued a warning to travellers in the Capital Region and on roads leading out of Reykjavík. The storm is expected to bring both strong winds and snow, sleet and rain, causing extremely limited visibility.
Conditions lin these storms can become very dangerous to drivers, especially drivers who are not accustomed to Icelandic winter conditions.
Read more: Iceland police stop crazed foreign traveller: Was driving at 155 kmh (96 mph) on icy road
The IRCA has now issued a list of roads it expects to close due to the storm: Several parts of the Ring Road, including the Ring Road out of Reykjavík, are expected to be closed to all traffic in the morning. The highway from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport is also expected to be closed to traffic, as well as roads leading to Þingvellir National Park.
Travellers should therefore adjust their travel plans accordingly.
Roads near Reykjavík:
Ring Road across Hellisheiði heath and Þrengslin mountain pass closed from 6:00 and 12:00 – 13:00
Ring Road in foothills of Mt Esja between 8:00 and 11:00
Ring Road in foothills of Hafnarfjall mountain between 7:00 and 11:00
Highway from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport between 7:00 and 11:00
Roads to Þingvellir National Park, Mosfellsheiði and Lyngdalsheiði heaths between 6:00 and 12:00 – 13:00
Roads in South Iceland
The entire Ring Road in South Iceland, to the village Vík will be closed between 7:00 and 12:00 – 13:00. The IRCA has not announced where the closures will be placed, but drivers should avoid being in the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull at this time.
Roads in West and North Iceland
The IRCA expects most major roads in West, North West and North Iceland to be closed to all traffic from early morning until early afternoon. This includes roads in Snæfellsnes peninsula which will be closed from 7:00-13:00 and the Westfjords, closed from 9:00-14:00 as well as roads in North West Iceland, which will be closed from 9:00-15:00, and North East Iceland, which will be closed from 10:00 to 17:00.
Travellers are advised that the Ring Road across Holtavörðuheiði heath, which separates North and West Iceland, as well as Öxnadalsheiði heath, which separates Skagafjörður fjord from Eyjafjörður fjord. Holtavörðuheiði will be closed from 8:00-13:00, while Öxnadalsheiði will be closed 9:00-15:00.
East Iceland
The IRCA expects major roads in East Iceland to close around noon and remain closed until early morning on Thursday.
People are also advised to expect other roads to close without warning as the storm unfolds.
