The severe weather alert for today Wednesday November 28 and tomorrow Thursday November 29 has been upgraded by the Icelandic Meteorological Office. A Yellow Weather Alert is in effect for all of Iceland, except the South East, where an Orange Weather Alert is in effect. Severe gales, storm and blizzard in the northern and eastern part, with limited visibility and dangerously powerful localized winds will bring a near certainty of disturbances to traffic.
The Ring Road in SE Iceland will be closed to all traffic at 18:00 (6 pm) tonight. The closure will affect the area between Kirkjubæjarklaustur village and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
Gales and snowstorm in the north
The IMO expects the blizzard in the Westfjords and NW Iceland, with sustained windspeeds of 15-23 m/s and blowing snow to continue until tomorrow evening or midnight. The South and West will be spared the snow, but will see more wind. In the South-East the sustained windspeed is expected to be 20-28 m/s (45-60 mph). Localized winds and windgusts are expected to reach hurricane force, reaching 55 m/s (125 mph). Under these conditions drivers can lose control of vehicles susceptible to wind, and cars can even be blow them off the road. RVs and vehicles pulling travel vans should stay off the road.
The IMO also warns of blowing sand and gravel and debris which can damage vehicles.
The severity of the weather will increase gradually during the afternoon, with the wind picking up in West and South Iceland, and blizzard hitting North East and East Iceland. Travelers are warned to expect very limited visibility and deteriorating road conditions.
The weather alert is in effect until midnight on Thursday, but the wind is expected to slow down in South Iceland on Thursday afternoon.
Always check the weather and road conditions
Now that winter has arrived travelers should always keep up to date with weather alerts and the forecast on vedur.is, any travel warnings at safetravel.is and road conditions on the website of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority.
The severe weather alert for today Wednesday November 28 and tomorrow Thursday November 29 has been upgraded by the Icelandic Meteorological Office. A Yellow Weather Alert is in effect for all of Iceland, except the South East, where an Orange Weather Alert is in effect. Severe gales, storm and blizzard in the northern and eastern part, with limited visibility and dangerously powerful localized winds will bring a near certainty of disturbances to traffic.
The Ring Road in SE Iceland will be closed to all traffic at 18:00 (6 pm) tonight. The closure will affect the area between Kirkjubæjarklaustur village and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
Gales and snowstorm in the north
The IMO expects the blizzard in the Westfjords and NW Iceland, with sustained windspeeds of 15-23 m/s and blowing snow to continue until tomorrow evening or midnight. The South and West will be spared the snow, but will see more wind. In the South-East the sustained windspeed is expected to be 20-28 m/s (45-60 mph). Localized winds and windgusts are expected to reach hurricane force, reaching 55 m/s (125 mph). Under these conditions drivers can lose control of vehicles susceptible to wind, and cars can even be blow them off the road. RVs and vehicles pulling travel vans should stay off the road.
The IMO also warns of blowing sand and gravel and debris which can damage vehicles.
The severity of the weather will increase gradually during the afternoon, with the wind picking up in West and South Iceland, and blizzard hitting North East and East Iceland. Travelers are warned to expect very limited visibility and deteriorating road conditions.
The weather alert is in effect until midnight on Thursday, but the wind is expected to slow down in South Iceland on Thursday afternoon.
Always check the weather and road conditions
Now that winter has arrived travelers should always keep up to date with weather alerts and the forecast on vedur.is, any travel warnings at safetravel.is and road conditions on the website of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority.
