The Icelandic Meteorological Office issued a storm warning late last night around the country and another for today as westerly and southwesterly winds with a speed of 15-25 meters per second and snowfall or sleet are forecast.
Archive photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Yesterday, the stormiest conditions were in the south and east with squalls reaching speeds of 40-50 meters per second. However, the weather is expected to calm in those regions later today. Dropping temperatures are also forecast, Morgunblaðið reports.
Roads in south Iceland across Sandskeið, Þrenglsi and Hellisheiði, the last of which is a stretch of the Ring Road connecting Reykjavík with Hveragerði, were closed yesterday evening as they had become impassable due to stormy and snowy conditions.
Many cars were stuck on the roads, including three large trucks. Commuters were asked to turn around and search and rescue teams from Reykjavík, Hveragerði, Selfoss and Þorlákshöfn went to assist drivers who were stuck in snowdrifts.
This morning the road across Þrengslin was reopened but Hellisheiði remained closed. Commuters are asked to consider the weather forecast and not head out in poorly-equipped vehicles, not even in the capital region where a blizzard is brewing and visibility is worsening, ruv.is reports.
Go to vedur.is to check the weather forecast and vegagerdin.is or call (+354) 1777 to check road conditions. Also take a look at safetravel.is.
Click here to read more about yesterday’s storm warming.
ESA
