The temperature dropped to as low as -27.3°C (-17.1°F) by lake Mývatn in northeast Iceland last night; countrywide the lowest temperature at that point. There is significant frost around the country.
Lake Mývatn. Archive photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Last night the temperature measured -22°C (-7.6°F) at the airport in Húsavík, for example. However, the frost subsided somewhat this morning, visir.is reports.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Iceland was -38°C (-36.4°F) at Grímsstaðir* á Fjöllum and Möðrudalur in Öræfi* in the northeastern highlands in 1918.
While most of November was unusually mild for the season, December has been unusually cold so far. Reykjavík hasn’t seen as low temperatures for this time of year in half a century.
In some places water has frozen in pipes and there is a risk of leakage causing damage. Such incidents might surface with the next thaw.
According to long-term weather forecasts, the frost and snow will remain throughout December and Icelanders might be in for a white Christmas, RÚV reports.
The pond in front of Reykjavík City Hall is frozen and the ice has become solid enough for crossing it on foot. However, pedestrians are advised to be cautious, visir.is reports.
City workers prepared the opening of an ice rink on the pond yesterday, clearing away the snow. Last weekend, ski resorts opened in north Iceland and cross-country tracks are open in Reykjavík’s resort in Mt. Bláfjöll and in the outdoor recreation area Heiðmörk.
Click here to read more about skiing.
ESA
* The Icelandic letter ð is pronounced like th in that.
The Icelandic letter æ is pronounced like the English word eye.
