Iceland breaks October air pressure record

Iceland has broken its October air pressure record, with a reading of 934.2 hectopascals at Fagurhólsmýri in Öræfi, mbl.is reports.

Meteorologist Einar Sveinbjörnsson told mbl.is that a barometer at Fagurhólsmýri recorded the reading during the late afternoon. The previous October record was 938.4 hPa at Stórhöfði in 1963. Air pressure has fallen below 940 hPa in October only once before in 180 years of measurements, he said.

A reading of 937.5 hPa was recorded earlier at Vatnsskarðshólar. Sveinbjörnsson said pressure could fall further later in the evening, possibly near Höfn, but considered that unlikely as the low-pressure system had begun to weaken.

The lowest pressure ever recorded in Iceland was 920 hPa in Vestmannaeyjar on December 2, 1929. Some winter lows below 910 hPa have passed nearby without reaching Iceland, Sveinbjörnsson said.

The deep low has brought strong winds around it, although the strongest southwesterly winds stayed south of Iceland and did not reach land. The winds are now pushing a large swell towards Vík. Measurements from the Surtsey buoy indicated a significant wave height of 9.0 metres after 6 p.m., nearly two metres above the latest forecast.

At the evening high tide, around 9 p.m., air pressure in the area was expected to be about 954 hPa, raising sea levels by 45 centimetres compared with normal pressure. The long ocean swell could add slightly to the water level. Sveinbjörnsson said the most damaging winds in Iceland, particularly in the south and including the capital region, have been associated with a sting jet.