The storm which is pummeling South, West and North Iceland is expected to slow down by noon. Several parts of the Ring Road and other roads are still closed, and are only expected to be opened later today. Sustained windspeeds of 43 m/s (96 mph) were recorded in the Central Highlands. The highest winspeed recorded over night was 64 m/s (143 mph) on Skarðsheiði heath in West Iceland.
Weather warnings were issued yesterday, urging travellers to cancel their travel plans.
Read more: Yellow and Orange Weather Alerts for tonight, Thursday: No travel weather
The storm peaked betwewen midnight and three in the morning. Due to violent winds and sleet the Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority had closed several roads in South West and West Iceland early yesterday evening. Conditions on pars of the Ring Road in West Iceland were also perilous. Windgusts in excess of 50 m/s (112 mph) were recorded on the Ring Road along Hafnarfjall mountain in West Iceland.
To put these figures into context sustained windspeeds in excess of 32.7 m/s (73 mph) are considered to be Hurricane force. The sustained windspeed on Skarðsheiði in West Iceland is the same as in a category 4 hurricane. Windspeed in individual gusts on the Ring Road in West Iceland were sufficient to blow cars off the road.
The storm which is pummeling South, West and North Iceland is expected to slow down by noon. Several parts of the Ring Road and other roads are still closed, and are only expected to be opened later today. Sustained windspeeds of 43 m/s (96 mph) were recorded in the Central Highlands. The highest winspeed recorded over night was 64 m/s (143 mph) on Skarðsheiði heath in West Iceland.
Weather warnings were issued yesterday, urging travellers to cancel their travel plans.
Read more: Yellow and Orange Weather Alerts for tonight, Thursday: No travel weather
The storm peaked betwewen midnight and three in the morning. Due to violent winds and sleet the Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority had closed several roads in South West and West Iceland early yesterday evening. Conditions on pars of the Ring Road in West Iceland were also perilous. Windgusts in excess of 50 m/s (112 mph) were recorded on the Ring Road along Hafnarfjall mountain in West Iceland.
To put these figures into context sustained windspeeds in excess of 32.7 m/s (73 mph) are considered to be Hurricane force. The sustained windspeed on Skarðsheiði in West Iceland is the same as in a category 4 hurricane. Windspeed in individual gusts on the Ring Road in West Iceland were sufficient to blow cars off the road.
