Violent Winds on Valentine’s Day

Red is the color of the wind speed map for tomorrow, which, incidentally, is Valentine’s Day.

The Icelandic Met Office has raised the weather alert for tomorrow from yellow to orange for all of Iceland. Expect transportation disturbances in the whole country and traffic delays in urban areas. Property damage is likely, due to flying debris. Higher sea levels are anticipated, due to storm surge, with the possibility of small boats being damaged or detached from the dock. People are advised to secure their neighborhood and fasten all loose items. Construction workers are reminded to secure construction sites. No travel is advised while the orange alert is in effect.

In the capital area, a yellow alert will at first be in effect, from 2 am to 5 am tomorrow morning, followed by an orange alert from 5 am till 3 pm. A severe easterly gale or storm is expected with wind speeds of 15-28 m/sec.

In South Iceland, the orange alert will be effective from 1 am till 3 pm. In Faxaflói, the orange alert takes effect at 5 am and is good through 6 pm. Violent east winds of 25-33 m/sec are expected, as well as wind gusts in excess of 50 m/sec near mountains.

In Breiðafjörður, the West Fjords, and in Northwest Iceland, the orange alert will be in effect from 5 am till 11 pm. A severe gale or storm is expected with wind gusts near mountains in excess of 40 m/sec. Snow and blowing snow is expected, with poor visibility and deteriorating road conditions.

In Northeast Iceland, the orange alert will be in effect from 8 am until 9 pm and in the Eastern coastal areas from 9 am until 5 pm. A severe gale or storm is expected with wind gusts near mountains in excess of 40 m/sec. Snow and blowing snow is expected, with poor visibility and deteriorating road conditions.

In the East Fjords, the orange alert is effective from 6 am till 11 pm and in Southeast Iceland from 5 am till 1pm. An east blizzard is expected, with wind gusts near mountains in excess of 40 m/sec in the East Fjords and in excess of 50 m/sec in Southeast Iceland. There will be violent east winds in the southeast.

For the central highlands, the warning is in effect from 3 am till 10 pm. A violent storm with hurricane-force winds is forecast and no travel is advised.

Follow the latest forecast on en.vedur.is.