The Icelandic Met Office has issued orange weather warnings for the Westfjords and North Iceland as a powerful low-pressure system crosses the country today, Wednesday 14 October. Most of the rest of Iceland is on a yellow warning for high winds and rain.
What the warnings mean
Orange warnings indicate dangerous or no-travel conditions — a step up from yellow’s caution-advised status. The Westfjords orange warning runs from 17:00 Wednesday until 02:00 Thursday; Strandir and Northwest Iceland are under orange from 20:00 until 05:00 Thursday.
Forecasters are warning of:
- Winds of 18–25 m/s with stronger gusts in exposed areas
- Heavy snow or sleet across northern regions
- Blizzard conditions making roads impassable by midday in the northwest
- Poor visibility across much of the country
Flight disruptions expected
Domestic flights are unlikely to operate during the warning period. International departures from Keflavík Airport are expected to go ahead, but travellers should monitor Icelandair and other carriers for updates. If you’re connecting through Keflavík to a domestic destination today, build in extra time and check conditions before heading out.
Roads
The Road and Coastal Administration’s road condition map is the most reliable source for live closures. If you’re road-tripping in the Westfjords or North Iceland today, we strongly advise postponing travel until Thursday when the system is forecast to clear.
For those still travelling, our Iceland winter driving guide covers essential safety steps: checking road conditions before every departure, carrying emergency supplies, and knowing when to turn back.
After the storm
Conditions across southern Iceland — including Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast — should be manageable with standard caution under yellow warnings. However, road surfaces may be icy following any overnight snow or sleet, so winter tyres are now essential across the country. Note that the legal winter tyre requirement came into effect on 15 October — one day after today’s storm.
We’ll update this article if the warnings are extended or the situation changes.