Minus 22,8 degrees Celcius in Víðidalur in Reykjavík
Víðidalur is a known area for keeping horses so it can be assumed that it will be cold for those who want to go horseback riding today. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Víðidalur in Reykjavík experienced frost as low as -22.8 Celcius this morning, making Víðidalur the coldest place in the country. However, this is not indicative of the weather in the capital area, Seltjarnarnes, at -4 degrees, Bústaðavegur at -10, and Kjalarnes, at -5 degrees.
The reason for how the landscape is reflected in the temperature in this way is the calm of the weather, according to meteorologist Einar Sveinbjörnsson.
“This is what happens when there is very little wind. Then the cold air builds up in so called pools. There is a pool of cold air, but it only became evident when the meter was put there. If there is a good wind, the cold air will be more dispersed and it will not matter where you are,” Einar reports.
Cold weather from Sandskeið to Geirsnef
The cold weather comes from a cold pool the comes from Sandskeið in Suðurlandsvegur. The cold air travels down to the Hólmsá river, over Elliðavatn and down the Elliðaárvegur road to Ósar by Geirsnef.
A map from The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (IRCA) show the cold pool clearly this morning. Screenshot
“It’s pretty well defined, people see it when they drive the cars over the bridges at Elliðaár and they get caught in the cold there.”
Temperature in the capital area can vary greatly depending on which meter is checked. Einar points out that the same would apply to the countryside if there were a network of meters close enough, as the landscape has a great influence on temperature.
