It has been unusually dry in Iceland in June. At the farm Skeiði in Svarfaðardal in the north of the country, springs are beginning to run dry due to lack of rain.

Northeast Iceland farm. The photo is unrelated to the story. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.

Ingimar Guðmundsson at Skeiði says that the water shortage has however not yet affected the daily lives of the residents or the operation of tourist services at Skeiði, Fréttablaðið reports.

“The water shortage has recently become problematic but we have not been without water yet. We don’t have any livestock and therefore the lack of rain has not affected us that much, although we have fields and a camping ground that require watering,” Ingimar said, adding that they have begun using different springs.

Meteorologist Óli Þór Árnason at the Iceland Meteorological Office says that precipitation levels have been well below the average for June.

“The month has been unusually dry and most parts of the country have enjoyed sunshine. Most haven’t seen a drop of rain, or very little,” Óli said.

In mid-June, it was reported that there had been significant drought in south and west Iceland and that precipitation had not been lower in a long time.

Morgunblaðið reported that if the drought continues, this might become one of the driest early summers since the beginning of weather recording.

According to weather hobbyist Sigurður Þór Guðjónsson, June has been the sunniest month in Reykjavík since May 1958, mbl.is reports.

However, the level of the ground water in mid-June in Heiðmörk, where Reykjavík’s drinking water supply originates, was similar to last year, according to geologist Snorri Zophoníasson.

Click here to read more about the dry conditions in Iceland this summer.

ZR