Glacial outburst flood in Múlakvísl river ends

The glacial outburst flood in the Múlakvísl river has ended, mbl.is reports, although caution is still advised in the area.

Salóme Jórunn Bernharðsdóttir, a natural hazard specialist on duty at the Icelandic Met Office, said gas measurements had not been considered necessary since 20 August. Monitoring will continue in case conditions change.

Increased electrical conductivity in the river indicated that a small glacial outburst flood had begun. Conductivity reached more than 560 microsiemens per centimetre, a very high reading comparable to the 580 measured during the 2017 flood.

The flood was not particularly large. The river’s water level did not rise significantly, but the river eroded its channel deeper.

Webcams still show slightly higher than normal flow, but measurements indicate that the flood itself is over, Bernharðsdóttir said.

Dangerous levels of hydrogen sulphide were measured in the area earlier this week, and people were advised to stay away. Although gas monitoring stopped around midday on 20 August, Bernharðsdóttir said there was still reason to exercise caution near the area.

“We can say that this flood is over, but we remain alert in case anything changes and will report it if it does,” she said.