Iceland expands weather warnings as freezing rain threatens roads

Iceland’s weather warnings are expanding as freezing rain could make roads dangerously slippery in the southwest this afternoon and evening, especially in southern inland areas, mbl.is reports, citing a road administration meteorologist.

Northwesterly storm-force winds are forecast for the southeast over the weekend, with wind speeds of 18 to 25 metres per second and gusts of up to 45 to 50 metres per second, particularly east of Öræfi. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued an orange warning from 5am to 11am on Saturday. It warns of possible local damage to structures and advises people to stay indoors and avoid travelling while the warning is in effect.

Warnings issued this morning for Northwest Iceland, Northeast Iceland, the Westfjords and the central highlands take effect on Friday evening and expire overnight or on Saturday morning. A yellow warning was added this afternoon for East Iceland east of Glettingur, the Eastfjords and Breiðafjörður.

The road administration expects conditions to worsen on mountain roads. Öxnadalsheiði, Vatnsskarð and Steingrímsfjarðarheiði could be affected after 4pm, followed shortly by Holtavörðuheiði, Brattabrekka and Vatnaleið, where roads may become impassable. The blizzard is expected to move east later in the evening and overnight.