Ice buildup after snowplows couldn’t get through
Snow clearing proved challenging in Reykjavík. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Thick ice ridges formed on main roads in Reykjavík during this week’s snowstorm, while nearby municipalities were less affected. The problem arose because snowplows from the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (Vegagerðin) were unable to reach the roads in time to clear the snow when it was freshly fallen.
As a result, the snow became compacted by traffic, eventually turning into ice.
Einar Sveinbjörnsson, meteorologist and consulting contractor for Vegagerðin, said that the ice buildup had been difficult to manage.
Einar Sveinbjörnsson veðurfræðingur mbl.is/Sigurður Bogi
“When it snowed on Tuesday, about half the snowfall came during the day. Then long lines of cars formed everywhere, and the snow got packed down. Because everything came to a halt, the plows couldn’t get through to clear it,” Sveinbjörnsson explained.
Conditions improved overnight
He said the situation had been worst in parts of Reykjavík, though main routes with lighter traffic fared better.
“We were able to keep the Reykjanesbraut in good condition because traffic was much lighter there. We could plow during the night and again during the day, so the ice never got a chance to settle,” he said.
According to Sveinbjörnsson , crews began breaking up the ice buildup on Reykjavík’s main roads overnight, and the work went well.
