Last week we saw the first proper winter storm visit Iceland, bringing snow, sleet and winter driving conditions in North Iceland and on heaths and on the Ring Road where it lies at higher altitudes. Snow and sleet has made many mountain roads impassable, including the Central Highlands. Tthe Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority has deemed nearly all roads in the Central Highlands as impassable due to snow and winter conditions.
All major highland routes closed, impassable
A spokesman for the IRCA told the National Broadcasting Service that the closing of roads in the Central Highlands comes rather early this year. All major routes were marked as closed on Saturday after the IRCA and Police had received several reports of foreign travelers who had requested assistance on Central Highland trails after getting their vehicles stuck in snow.
The roads have not yet been physically blocked to stop people from entering – but this should not be taken an invitation to enter. If the IRCA deems roads impassable they are, in fact, impassable. If you enter a closed or impassable road you WILL need rescue and assistance.
Once winter arrives in the mountains and Central Highlands it does not release its grip until late spring. Travelers should not expect to drive into the Central Highlands until next summer.
Read more: Travellers don't understand that signs reading impassable mean road is, in fact, impassable
As always, some drivers are either not prepared for the change in weather or fail to take warnings seriously. Fortunately this has not led to any serious accidents, although numerous minor accidents, where cars have for example run off the road, have been reported. Please help keep it that way! Slow down and drive safe. 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.
Last week we saw the first proper winter storm visit Iceland, bringing snow, sleet and winter driving conditions in North Iceland and on heaths and on the Ring Road where it lies at higher altitudes. Snow and sleet has made many mountain roads impassable, including the Central Highlands. Tthe Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority has deemed nearly all roads in the Central Highlands as impassable due to snow and winter conditions.
All major highland routes closed, impassable
A spokesman for the IRCA told the National Broadcasting Service that the closing of roads in the Central Highlands comes rather early this year. All major routes were marked as closed on Saturday after the IRCA and Police had received several reports of foreign travelers who had requested assistance on Central Highland trails after getting their vehicles stuck in snow.
The roads have not yet been physically blocked to stop people from entering – but this should not be taken an invitation to enter. If the IRCA deems roads impassable they are, in fact, impassable. If you enter a closed or impassable road you WILL need rescue and assistance.
Once winter arrives in the mountains and Central Highlands it does not release its grip until late spring. Travelers should not expect to drive into the Central Highlands until next summer.
Read more: Travellers don't understand that signs reading impassable mean road is, in fact, impassable
As always, some drivers are either not prepared for the change in weather or fail to take warnings seriously. Fortunately this has not led to any serious accidents, although numerous minor accidents, where cars have for example run off the road, have been reported. Please help keep it that way! Slow down and drive safe. 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.
