Police urge people to watch Iceland eclipse from home

Icelandic police will increase their preparedness on Wednesday as a total solar eclipse becomes visible in Iceland for the first time since 1954, mbl.is reports. The period of total darkness will last for about one to two minutes, depending on where people are in the country.

Árni Friðleifsson, chief superintendent of the traffic division of the Capital Region Police, said there was considerable uncertainty about the day ahead.

“Almost all of our vehicles will be out, and we will have an increased response,” Árni told mbl.is. He said rain was forecast in western Iceland and the skies were expected to be cloudy, meaning many people might choose to watch the eclipse from home.

“We encourage people to stay at home and simply be out in the garden between the raindrops,” he said.

Police have prepared with the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration and other stakeholders. Officers will be ready along Vesturlandsvegur if traffic becomes particularly heavy on the road and through the Hvalfjörður Tunnel.

Several road closures and traffic-management measures will be in place on Wednesday. Information is available on solmyrkvi2026.is and the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration website.

In the capital region, closures will mainly affect western Reykjavík, including Ægissíða and surrounding streets. Suðurgata will also be closed westwards from Hringbraut.

Traffic will be managed on Álftanes, where one-way traffic will operate. Streets around an outdoor concert at Víðistaðatún in Hafnarfjörður will also be closed. Suðurströnd on Seltjarnarnes will be closed as far as the golf course.