Both the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the Road and Coastal Administration have issued a weather warning for tomorrow. The Icelandic Meteorological Office is warning that strong or violent gale (more than 20 m/s) is expected in all parts of Iceland late tonight and tomorrow. The IRCA warns of storm (wind speeds of 25 m/s or more) in the Westfjords.
Dangerous or challenging driving conditions
Travellers are advised that under these conditions many mountain and heath roads and roads along steep mountain sides can become challenging. The IRCA wars that driving conditions on heaths along the Ring Road, as well as stretches of the Ring Road in South and South East Iceland can become dangerous.
Visibility on Steingrímsfjarðarheiði heath, which connects the Ring Road to the Westfjords, is expected to be close to zero. Visibility and driving conditions on the Ring Road on Holtavörðuheiði heath, connecting West and South Iceland are similarly expected to be very poo, although conditions will be better than at Steingrímsfjarðarheiði. Snowfall ahd high winds can also be expected on heath and mountain roads in East Iceland.
Warning for S.E. Iceland, Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon
The IRCA warns that individual wind gusts in the Öræfi district in South East Iceland (especially between Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon) can easily reach hurricane force, 45 m/s (100 mph).
Gusts of this magnitude can blow cars off the road, or cause motorists to lose control of their vehicles. Storms in this region also blow up sand, gravel and stones, causing significant damage to cars. Rental car insurance policies usually do not cover damage from sand storms, or stones thrown by wind.
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 the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the Road and Coastal Administration have issued a weather warning for tomorrow. The Icelandic Meteorological Office is warning that strong or violent gale (more than 20 m/s) is expected in all parts of Iceland late tonight and tomorrow. The IRCA warns of storm (wind speeds of 25 m/s or more) in the Westfjords.
Dangerous or challenging driving conditions
Travellers are advised that under these conditions many mountain and heath roads and roads along steep mountain sides can become challenging. The IRCA wars that driving conditions on heaths along the Ring Road, as well as stretches of the Ring Road in South and South East Iceland can become dangerous.
Visibility on Steingrímsfjarðarheiði heath, which connects the Ring Road to the Westfjords, is expected to be close to zero. Visibility and driving conditions on the Ring Road on Holtavörðuheiði heath, connecting West and South Iceland are similarly expected to be very poo, although conditions will be better than at Steingrímsfjarðarheiði. Snowfall ahd high winds can also be expected on heath and mountain roads in East Iceland.
Warning for S.E. Iceland, Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon
The IRCA warns that individual wind gusts in the Öræfi district in South East Iceland (especially between Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon) can easily reach hurricane force, 45 m/s (100 mph).
Gusts of this magnitude can blow cars off the road, or cause motorists to lose control of their vehicles. Storms in this region also blow up sand, gravel and stones, causing significant damage to cars. Rental car insurance policies usually do not cover damage from sand storms, or stones thrown by wind.
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.
