Blöndulón unlikely to fill this summer

Blöndulón is unlikely to fill this summer, although the overall storage situation in Landsvirkjun’s highland reservoirs remains good despite lower-than-average inflows, mbl.is reports. The company expects two of its three reservoirs to fill.

“The weather has not supported our reservoirs this summer. It has been dry in the highlands and precipitation has been below average, even though some lowland areas have recorded record rainfall,” said Ragnhildur Sverrisdóttir, Landsvirkjun’s communications officer.

Blöndulón has stood lower only twice in the past 22 years than it does now, and there is little chance it will fill this autumn. This marks a significant change from last year, when the reservoir reached its spillway in mid-July.

The Blanda River becomes difficult to fish when Blöndulón reaches its spillway, but that is unlikely to happen this year based on current conditions.

Calm weather and low precipitation during the first part of the past winter resulted in very low natural inflows into Blöndulón early in the year. Heavy snowmelt in April sharply raised the reservoir’s surface level over a short period. The resulting flood was more than twice as large as the biggest floods recorded up to that point, but it was not enough to offset the low level over time.

“We do not believe this will cause problems, however. Blöndulón’s level is fully sufficient for the planned electricity generation in the north,” Ragnhildur said.

That means the Blanda power station is expected to be in a strong position.

Hálslón, the reservoir serving the Kárahnjúkar power station, is also filling more slowly than in recent years. However, it is still expected to reach its spillway after mid-September.

When that happens, the Jökla River will become impossible to fish. It will carry more water and become fast-flowing and muddy.

The Hverfandi waterfall will also appear when water plunges 90 to 100 metres into Hafrahvammagljúfur. The waterfall is so powerful that it can be compared with Dettifoss.

At Þjórsá and Tungnaá, Þórisvatn, Landsvirkjun’s largest and most important reservoir, is above the seasonal average and is now almost full.

“In mid-September, 14 wind turbines at Vaðölduver will begin supplying electricity to the grid, further supporting generation in our largest power-producing area,” Ragnhildur said.

Installation of the turbines began in the second half of May and was completed around the turn of the month. Landsvirkjun has had to curtail electricity supplies to major users in several recent years, mainly because of low water levels in Þórisvatn. There is little likelihood that such measures will be needed this winter.