The highest temperature to hit Iceland in March by far was recorded at 20.5°C (68.9°F) at the farm Kvísker in Öræfi, southeast Iceland, on Thursday; previous reports assumed a one-degree lower temperature as measured by the Icelandic Road Administration.
Early summer in Reykjavík. Is spring around the corner? Archive photo by Páll Kjartansson.
The record was confirmed by the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s automated weather observation post which is located by the farm, whereas the Road Administration’s post is down by the road, Morgunblaðið reports.
The record temperature was measured twice on March 29, first at 1:40 pm and again at 3:20 pm. The previous record was set in Eskifjörður, east Iceland, on March 28, 2000, when the temperature rose to 18.8°C (65.8°F).
Meteorologist Trausti Jónsson said March was warm this year, especially in the north and east, although it did not come close to being the warmest March in Icelandic history.
“The warmest March on record was in 1929 when the average temperature in Akureyri was 5°C, while it was 3.1°C now. In 1929, the average temperature in Reykjavík was 5.9°C but this year it was 2.9°C,” Trausti said.
He added that April will not start out as warm as last month ended; cooler temperatures are forecast with probability of southerly winds and rain on Thursday, the first day of the Easter holidays.
The following day there is outlook for a northeasterly storm with possible snowfall in the north and east and a further drop in temperatures.
Click here to read more about the heat record at Kvísker.
ESA
