The Icelandic Met Office has issued a flood and landslide warning for the East Fjords. Due to unusually heavy rainfall yesterday and last night, there is considerable growth in rivers and streams in the area, along with the possibility of landslides. This warning is in effect through tonight (Wednesday).
In some cases, creeks have flooded the roads, according to Harpa Grímsdóttir at the Met Office, who was interviewed by visir.is. The road along southern Seyðisfjörður is closed due to water damage, but precipitation in that area was 100 mm in less than 24 hours. At its heaviest, the rainfall measured 10 mm an hour last night. Some creeks have turned rust brown and muddy, Harpa explained. She expects the danger to subside as soon as the rainfall decreases early in the afternoon.
Guests staying at a guesthouse in southern Seyðisfjörður have been asked to evacuate. The rainfall in Neskaupsstaður was not quite as heavy, but in Fáskrúðsfjörður the downpour reached 13.9 mm an hour between 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning.
The summer has been colder than average and, therefore, there is more snow in the mountains than usually at this time of year. Thus, the melting of snow contributes to the flooding.
For the latest weather updates, visit vedur.is.
