Glacial flood in Múlakvísl appears to be subsiding

The glacial flood in the Múlakvísl river appears to be subsiding, mbl.is reports. Electrical conductivity in the river has returned to normal levels, and no problems have been reported. Police monitored the area.

Elísabet Pálmadóttir, a natural hazard specialist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, said conductivity had fallen rapidly since the afternoon or evening before. It is now measured at about 190 microsiemens per centimetre, which she said was normal for this time of year.

Conductivity peaked at just over 560 microsiemens per centimetre. Pálmadóttir said that was a very high reading and that a similar level had not been recorded since the 2017 glacial flood, when conductivity reached 580 microsiemens per centimetre.

However, she said the current flood was not particularly large. Its size was difficult to estimate because the water level in the river did not rise; instead, the river eroded its channel. The Icelandic Meteorological Office had not received reports of any problems, while police in South Iceland monitored the area.