From Iceland — Severe Winter Weather In West, North And East Iceland; Road Travel Hazardous

Severe Winter Weather In West, North And East Iceland; Road Travel Hazardous

Published October 24, 2019

Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photo by
Timothée Lambrecq

Today and tomorrow morning are not good times to be traveling by car through any region of Iceland except for the southwest.

The latest alerts from the Icelandic Met Office forecast gale force winds through all of the southeast, east, and the entirety of North Iceland. This will mean winds from 10 to 25 metres per second, with gusts blasting even stronger than this. Further complicating matters is the snow pouring down on the north and northeast.

In fact, the latest road conditions from The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration paint a dire picture of road travel through much of the country.

Roads in the west and east are slippery, marked by spots of ice. In the north, roads are also icy, exacerbated by wet snow on the roads and blowing snow decreasing visibility. Several roads in the Westfjords are completely impassable.

All this being the case, the combination of both blizzard conditions and slippery, difficult-to-traverse roads, only the southwest of the country is 100% safe for car travel from now until tomorrow at noon. If you must travel, please tell people where you are going, have a fully charged phone, and rent a vehicle that can handle high winds and snow.

Support The Reykjavík Grapevine!
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!

Show Me More!