Travellers planning on trips in South or West Iceland might want to revise their travel plans. A yellow weather alert has been issued for the region around Faxaflói bay, including Snæfellsnes and Reykjanes peninsulas and the west coast, as well as all of South and South East Iceland. Severe gale can create dangerous driving conditions near mountains.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a Yellow Weather alert, effective from noon today for South Iceland, from 14:00 (2 pm) for South East Iceland and from 15:00 (3 pm) for the West. The alert is in effect until midnight, for the South and West, or 9 am tomorrow morning for the South East.
Travellers should remember keep two things in mind:
1) Expect powerful windgusts when driving near steep mountain sides. Individual gusts can easily reach hurricane force, causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles or blowing cars off the road. The Ring Road runs close to numerous steep mountains where such windgusts form.
2) Driving conditions become progressively more difficult at higher altitudes. The Ring Road crosses several mountain passes and heaths where driving conditions can deteriorate rapidly.
ICE-SAR travel alert for West Iceland
A travel alert has been issued for west Iceland, asking travellers to take care on the Ring Road between Reykjavík and the town of Borgarnes in West Iceland.
Wind gusts over 35 m/s (80 mph, 130 km/h) expected from Reykjavík to Borgarnes and from Borgarnes to Húsafell in the afternoon! SLOW DOWN when driving near mountains!
ICE-SAR has also issued a travel warning for the Golden Circle in South-West Iceland for tonight:
Bad driving conditions on the Golden Circle tonight around 18:00-24:00 (6PM – Midnight) due to snow and poor visibility on the mountain roads! Travelling in the area not advised around this time!
Difficult driving conditions in South Iceland
Travellers are warned to expect severe gale with easterly winds of 20-25 m/s along the South coast and in South Iceland. The worst conditions will be along the Eyjafjöll mountain range in the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull glacier in the south, and on the Ring Road between Reykjavík and the town of Hveragerði where it crosses Hellisheiði heath.
Powerful windgusts can easily reach hurricane force, 25.45 m/s in the region east of Seljalandsfoss waterfall and west of Vík. Rain or sleet and very difficult driving conditions. Drivers are also warned of rain and sleet and very difficult driving conditions on Hellisheiði.
Whole gale in South East Iceland
Travellers are also warned to expect dangerous driving conditions in South East Iceland, especially in the area near Öræfajökull glacier, the southernmost part of Vatnajökull. Easterly wind 20-28 m/s with windgusts reaching 35-45 m/s. Sleet or rain and very difficult driving conditions do not make for ideal travel weather.
Travellers planning on trips in South or West Iceland might want to revise their travel plans. A yellow weather alert has been issued for the region around Faxaflói bay, including Snæfellsnes and Reykjanes peninsulas and the west coast, as well as all of South and South East Iceland. Severe gale can create dangerous driving conditions near mountains.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a Yellow Weather alert, effective from noon today for South Iceland, from 14:00 (2 pm) for South East Iceland and from 15:00 (3 pm) for the West. The alert is in effect until midnight, for the South and West, or 9 am tomorrow morning for the South East.
Travellers should remember keep two things in mind:
1) Expect powerful windgusts when driving near steep mountain sides. Individual gusts can easily reach hurricane force, causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles or blowing cars off the road. The Ring Road runs close to numerous steep mountains where such windgusts form.
2) Driving conditions become progressively more difficult at higher altitudes. The Ring Road crosses several mountain passes and heaths where driving conditions can deteriorate rapidly.
ICE-SAR travel alert for West Iceland
A travel alert has been issued for west Iceland, asking travellers to take care on the Ring Road between Reykjavík and the town of Borgarnes in West Iceland.
Wind gusts over 35 m/s (80 mph, 130 km/h) expected from Reykjavík to Borgarnes and from Borgarnes to Húsafell in the afternoon! SLOW DOWN when driving near mountains!
ICE-SAR has also issued a travel warning for the Golden Circle in South-West Iceland for tonight:
Bad driving conditions on the Golden Circle tonight around 18:00-24:00 (6PM – Midnight) due to snow and poor visibility on the mountain roads! Travelling in the area not advised around this time!
Difficult driving conditions in South Iceland
Travellers are warned to expect severe gale with easterly winds of 20-25 m/s along the South coast and in South Iceland. The worst conditions will be along the Eyjafjöll mountain range in the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull glacier in the south, and on the Ring Road between Reykjavík and the town of Hveragerði where it crosses Hellisheiði heath.
Powerful windgusts can easily reach hurricane force, 25.45 m/s in the region east of Seljalandsfoss waterfall and west of Vík. Rain or sleet and very difficult driving conditions. Drivers are also warned of rain and sleet and very difficult driving conditions on Hellisheiði.
Whole gale in South East Iceland
Travellers are also warned to expect dangerous driving conditions in South East Iceland, especially in the area near Öræfajökull glacier, the southernmost part of Vatnajökull. Easterly wind 20-28 m/s with windgusts reaching 35-45 m/s. Sleet or rain and very difficult driving conditions do not make for ideal travel weather.
