No reports of avalanches in the east
According to Tómas Jóhannsson, an avalanche expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, there have been no reports of avalanches in the Eastfjords overnight or this morning, but yesterday a level of uncertainty was declared due to the risk of avalanches in the Eastfjords and a level of danger in Neskaupstaður and Seyðisfjörður.
It was decided to evacuate residential and commercial areas in Neskaupstaður and Seyðisfjörður yesterday afternoon, and the total number of residents in the evacuation areas is around 170.
"The weather forecast has been correct. The precipitation is decreasing in the east as expected, but then another wave of snow will come in the afternoon. So this will not be over until late this evening or after midnight tonight," Jóhannsson tells mbl.is.
Orange warning in effect until midnight in the East Fjords
He says it has snowed a lot, especially in Seyðisfjörður where the accumulated precipitation has exceeded 100 millimeters since noon yesterday.
"There is a lot of snow in Seyðisfjörður and Neskaupstaður, but we have not had any news of avalanches, which is not expected because it is impassable in many places and people have not been on the road," says Tómas.
Jóhannsson says he is fully prepared for avalanches after all this precipitation. He says that two avalanches fell on the road yesterday afternoon.
There are orange warnings in East Iceland and the East Fjords due to a northeasterly storm and heavy snowfall in the East Fjords.
In East Iceland at Gletting, an orange warning is in effect until 2 pm today and until midnight in the East Fjords.
No one had to stay in mass aid stations
Mass aid stations were opened in both Seyðisfjörður and Neskaupstaður and Jón Björn Hákonarson, project manager for civil protection in East Iceland, says that no one had to stay in them. He says that people have been given accommodation with friends and relatives.
Evacuation is complete in Neskaupstaður and Seyðisfjörður
"Everyone is on their toes and we are taking stock of the situation with civil protection and the Meteorological Office this afternoon and seeing if the situation has changed. We have not heard of any avalanches near settlements, but this will be looked into in more detail when it is properly reported.
Schools are cancelled
Schools are cancelled today at the Neskaupstaður primary school and at the East Iceland Vocational School in Neskaupstaður.
The Nesskóli website, which is the primary school in Neskaupstaður, states that this decision was made with the interests of students and staff in mind.