Increased likelihood of landslides and rockfall due to heavy rainfall

The weather system forecast yesterday is now moving across the country, and intense rainfall has been recorded in several areas, including the East Fjords, East Iceland as far north as Glettingur, and the Tröllaskagi Peninsula. Rainfall has been higher than forecast in many locations, and the system appears to be moving through more quickly than expected, particularly in northern Iceland.

Precipitation and snowmelt on Tuesday, 27 October

The weather forecast predicts a precipitation front moving across Iceland from the early hours of Tuesday, 27 October. Precipitation will begin in the southeast before spreading across most of the country. The heaviest precipitation is expected near and south of Vatnajökull, in the Eastfjords, on the Flateyjarskagi peninsula and in Strandir. The front will move relatively quickly across the country, and conditions are expected to clear on Wednesday.

Snowmelt and heavy rainfall expected in western part of Iceland

Two low-pressure systems are approaching Iceland from the southwest. The first will track northward along Greenland’s east coast, with its effects expected to reach Iceland during the afternoon of Saturday, 17 October. The second system will move along Iceland’s west coast on the morning of Sunday, 18 October. Both systems are expected to bring warmer air and precipitation, promoting snowmelt.