Yellow landslide warning in the northern Westfjords

The past several days have been exceptionally wet across many parts of the country. In the northern Westfjords, both rockfalls and landslides have occurred, most notably a large landslide that fell onto Hnífsdalsvegur yesterday, 2 October. Today, Saturday, a low-pressure system is expected to move across Iceland, bringing additional precipitation. The total precipitation associated with this system is not expected to be significant in terms of landslide hazard. However, as soils are already saturated, even a small amount of additional rainfall may be enough to trigger slope movements and increase the likelihood of landslides.

Notable landslide activity has been observed in the Gleiðarhjalli area in recent days. This slope is known to be particularly sensitive following prolonged periods of rainfall. A landslide occurred in Eyrarhlíð yesterday, Friday, 2 October, covering a width of approximately 20 metres across the road. Owing to the continued rainfall expected today, there is an increased likelihood of further activity in both Gleiðarhjalli and Eyrarhlíð.

Sudden road closures are possible under these conditions, particularly along Hnífsdalsvegur. The Landslide watch is closely monitoring the situation and encourages the public to follow announcements from the police and check updates on the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration's website.

The public is encouraged to report landslides and rockfalls to the Landslide Watch. Reports can be sent by email to skriduvakt@vedur.is or submitted using the electronic reporting form for landslides and avalanches. Please provide the precise location and, if known, the time when the landslide or rockfall occurred. If the exact time is not known, it is sufficient to state when it was first observed. Please include photographs where possible. The Landslide Watch reviews the reports and attempts to verify them before they are entered into the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s landslide database.