The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued Yellow Weather Alerts for all of Iceland, effective from noon or mid-afternoon today, Friday, until early morning tomorrow, Saturday. The IMO warns people that a severe gale with heavy rain and powerful localized winds and windgusts near mountains. The weather will begin to deteriorate in the afternoon, peaking early evening.
The storm will hit West and South Iceland around noon, bringing blizzard and blowing snow. Driving conditions on roads on heaths and other roads at higher altitudes are expected to start to deteriorate at noon. Conditions on heath roads have been far from ideal in the past few days. ICE-SAR rescued four groups of travellers from cars stuck in snow returning from the Golden Circle overnight.
Read more: ICE-SAR rescued lost hikers and travellers whose cars got stuck on heath near Reykjavík
The IMO's weather warning for West and South Iceland is in effect from 15:00 in the afternoon until 1:00 or 1:30 after midnight. A southeasterly gale or severe gale with heavy rain. Travellers should be especially cautious near mountains as powerful localized winds and windgusts can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.
Remember: No Weather alert doesn't mean the weather is ideal or even suitable for travel!
In North West Iceland the IMO warns that top windspeeds in localized winds can be expected to exceed 40 m/s (90 mph). People are also warned that heavy rain in East and South East Iceland can cause rivers and streams to swell. Mudslides can also be expected from mountain sides.
Travellers in South Iceland should show extra caution in the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull glacier.
Read more: Video: Storm turns Ring Road on glacial outwash plains in SE. Iceland into a glacial lagoon
The IRCA has issued the following warning
Increasing wind and snow blizzard between 1200 and 1500 on mountain roads at SW-part of Iceland, later rain. Wind gusts up to 40-45 m/s from 1300 to 1600 between Seljalandsfoss and Vík. Gusts from 1700 between Reykjavík and Borgarnes.
ICE-SAR has issued a travel warning:
A storm is expected over all of Iceland today around noon (until noon Saturday) and will bring strong winds over 25m/s (90km/h, 55mph) with rain in the south and west. Difficult travel conditions are expected.
Drive safe and keep up to date on travel conditions!
Winter travellers in Iceland are urged to pay close attention to the weather forecast, all weather alerts and road conditions as well as travel alerts from ICE -SAR before embarking on any travel outside urban areas.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued Yellow Weather Alerts for all of Iceland, effective from noon or mid-afternoon today, Friday, until early morning tomorrow, Saturday. The IMO warns people that a severe gale with heavy rain and powerful localized winds and windgusts near mountains. The weather will begin to deteriorate in the afternoon, peaking early evening.
The storm will hit West and South Iceland around noon, bringing blizzard and blowing snow. Driving conditions on roads on heaths and other roads at higher altitudes are expected to start to deteriorate at noon. Conditions on heath roads have been far from ideal in the past few days. ICE-SAR rescued four groups of travellers from cars stuck in snow returning from the Golden Circle overnight.
Read more: ICE-SAR rescued lost hikers and travellers whose cars got stuck on heath near Reykjavík
The IMO's weather warning for West and South Iceland is in effect from 15:00 in the afternoon until 1:00 or 1:30 after midnight. A southeasterly gale or severe gale with heavy rain. Travellers should be especially cautious near mountains as powerful localized winds and windgusts can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.
Remember: No Weather alert doesn't mean the weather is ideal or even suitable for travel!
In North West Iceland the IMO warns that top windspeeds in localized winds can be expected to exceed 40 m/s (90 mph). People are also warned that heavy rain in East and South East Iceland can cause rivers and streams to swell. Mudslides can also be expected from mountain sides.
Travellers in South Iceland should show extra caution in the foothills of Eyjafjallajökull glacier.
Read more: Video: Storm turns Ring Road on glacial outwash plains in SE. Iceland into a glacial lagoon
The IRCA has issued the following warning
Increasing wind and snow blizzard between 1200 and 1500 on mountain roads at SW-part of Iceland, later rain. Wind gusts up to 40-45 m/s from 1300 to 1600 between Seljalandsfoss and Vík. Gusts from 1700 between Reykjavík and Borgarnes.
ICE-SAR has issued a travel warning:
A storm is expected over all of Iceland today around noon (until noon Saturday) and will bring strong winds over 25m/s (90km/h, 55mph) with rain in the south and west. Difficult travel conditions are expected.
Drive safe and keep up to date on travel conditions!
Winter travellers in Iceland are urged to pay close attention to the weather forecast, all weather alerts and road conditions as well as travel alerts from ICE -SAR before embarking on any travel outside urban areas.
