Orange warnings issued as blizzard threatens northern Iceland

A blizzard is forecast for northern Iceland on Friday evening, and orange and yellow weather warnings have been issued, mbl.is reports.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office says snow will begin in western Iceland today and spread to other parts of the country later. In low-lying areas in the west, snow is expected to turn to sleet or rain in the afternoon. Eastern Iceland will remain cold with little precipitation for much of the day.

Conditions are expected to worsen in the north on Friday, with westerly and northwesterly winds of 10 to 18 metres per second and snow in the afternoon. On Friday evening, a northerly blizzard is forecast in northern Iceland, with winds of 18 to 25 metres per second. The southeast is expected to be much calmer and mostly dry.

Orange warnings have been issued for Northwest and Northeast Iceland. Yellow warnings cover the Westfjords and the central highlands. Most warnings take effect at 2 p.m. on Friday, with the warnings in the north turning orange at 8 p.m. They will expire in stages overnight, with all warnings ending by 9 a.m. on Saturday.

People planning to travel, particularly in northern Iceland on Friday, are urged to monitor forecasts and warnings. Difficult driving conditions are expected where strong winds and snowfall coincide.