From the Monitoring Desk

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.

Avalanche Watch Begins Operations

The Icelandic Met Office's avalanche watch has begun operations for the winter. Regular avalanche monitoring runs from 15 October to 31 May. Until the new year, regional avalanche forecasts will be published three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. After the new year, they will be published daily.

Deep low approaching Iceland, bringing gales, rain and blizzard conditions

A deep low will approach Iceland tonight, bringing easterly gales and considerable precipitation tomorrow morning. Northerly winds will bring blizzard conditions to northwestern Iceland in the afternoon, spreading eastwards overnight. The weather will ease on Thursday. Keep up to date with weather warnings.

Major change in the weather expected on Wednesday

A very deep and compact low-pressure system is expected to cross Iceland on Wednesday, bringing strong gales, heavy precipitation and blizzard conditions to parts of the country. Forecasts for this type of severe weather are particularly sensitive to changes in the track of the low.

Yellow landslide warning for eastern part of the country on Wednesday 14th of October

Recent weeks have been relatively wet across much of Iceland. Significant precipitation fell at the beginning of the week as weather fronts moved across southern and eastern parts of the country. All of the precipitation fell as rain and, although it did not last long, rainfall intensity was considerable. As a result, soils on slopes are widely saturated or waterlogged and therefore sensitive to additional rainfall.

Significant short-duration rainfall expected in Southern and Eastern part tonight

Late this evening, 11 October, a frontal system will move into southern Iceland. Brief periods of significant rainfall are expected in Southeast and East Iceland. The front is forecast to have passed by midday tomorrow. While the front is moving across the country, slope movements such as rockfalls and small landslides cannot be ruled out.

Yellow landslide warning in the East fjords

There is an increased risk of rockfalls and minor landslides in the Eastfjords as a weather front moves across the country on Thursday and Friday. Precipitation is expected to decrease and temperatures to drop slightly late Friday, reducing the risk of landslides.

Yellow landslide warning in the northern Westfjords

Landslides and rockfalls have occurred in various locations across the northern Westfjords in recent days. A large landslide fell onto Hnífsdalsvegur road, blocking it for a time. Due to continued precipitation over the coming days, there remains a risk of landslides and rockfalls in the area.