Winter in Iceland is unpredictable. You can have all types of weather in one day; brilliant sunshine, the heaviest grey rain and everything in between. The only thing you can really count on is that the day will be short. So, if you are thinking about driving in winter in Iceland, here is some information, tips and links so you can make your journey as safe as possible!

 

  

 

Official winter season is from late October to late April. First day of winter is usually in late October but this does not mean that the weather will definitely be nice until then. We do not have to go further than 2012 to find a snowstorm in September but that is unusual. The first day of summer is in late April, this is usually wishful thinking though since it almost always snows on that day. :)

 

One thing to keep in mind when traveling in Iceland in winter is that the days are very short. During the shortest day of the year, December 21st, there is only about 3 hours of actual daylight in Akureyri and 4 hours in Reykjavík. This is important to keep in mind when planning your trip so you can see certain sites during daylight and spend the drive there in darkness. 

 

The weather is not the same in different regions of Iceland. The south is usually milder while the north and western fjords get more snow. When traveling between regions you will often have to drive through mountain passages or heaths. These are usually the most dangerous part of your way since the weather in the mountains can be much worse than down by the seaside. When you do get into heavy snow or a snowstorm try to follow the sticks on the sides of the roads, they will keep you on the road until you get to better driving conditions (you can see the sticks on the pic below). The heaths are often closed during bad weather so make sure you check the road conditions before you drive on.

 

 

 

   

Road conditions - full map and detailed map of the South East 

 

You can see road conditions visually on a map of the whole country (picture on the left). The conditions of the roads are reflected in their color and the colors are listed in the bottom right corner. As you can see, 22 February 2013 was a good day for driving in Iceland; the roads are green on most of the ring road with spots of ice on parts in the north east. The highlands in the middle of the country are of course marked red for impassable. You can also see conditions at different parts of the country. In the pic on the right I have chosen South East and as you can see, the map provides detailed weather and traffic details.

 

      

The Vegasja webcam site - full map, detailed map and weather warning signs  

 

The smaller light green circles show you details about the weather. Although not visible on my still shots, they will show activity if there is heavy wind at that spot. The color around the circle represent the severity of the danger. I have translated the warnings roughly in the below table, the warnings match the colored rings in the pic on the far right. 

 

Blue circle: Wind = 15-25 meters/second (m/s). Warning 1-3 for mobile homes, campers, trailers and caravans.

Yellow circle: Wind = 26-29 m/s. Warning 1 for normal vehicles (other than mobile homes, campers, trailers and caravans) which means that drivers need to be cautious, especially on wet or slippery roads.

Red inner circle/yellow outer circle: Wind = 30-35 m/s. Warning 2 for normal vehicles which means that is hard to drive and likely that cars will be swept off the road by sidewinds.

Red circle: Wind = 36 m/s. Warning 3 for normal vehicles which is no driving weather at all.

 

You can also call 1777 for road conditions. 

 

 

• The emergency number in Iceland is 112.

• Whenever possible, try to talk to local people about conditions in the area, such as tourist information centers or rangers. They know a lot and are ready to help.

• Be prepared for all types of weather as the weather can change almost with a blink of an eye.

• You need to have your lights on at all times, in summer and in winter, even when it’s bright outside.

• You cannot talk, text or write e-mails on your mobile while driving. There is obviously no drinking and driving.

• When you are at a four way intersection, the rule is that the car to your right has the right of way. In many residential neighborhoods in Reykjavik there are no stop or wait signs, then the car to your right has the right of way as well.

• In roundabouts it is the car on the inside that has the right of way. I have been told this is unusual.

• You cannot turn right on a red light. Only drive when the light is green.

• Animals can be on the roads in winter as well as summer, although in winter they are more likely to be wild reindeer than domestic sheep.

• Please be aware that off-road driving in strictly forbidden by law in Iceland as it damages nature for decades. If the road does not have a number, do not drive on it, even if there are tire tracks. Those who drive off-road are subject to excessive fines or imprisonment of up to two years.

 

 

   

Photos by Sanmarkotravel.com and AOL travel respectively.

 

 

Have a safe trip! And make sure you stop when the Northern lights come out to mesmerize you on your travels. :)

Signy

 

SOURCES AND USEFUL INFORMATION

Free app about Icelandic traffic signs (can be used offline).

How to drive on the F roads in the highlands of Iceland - SADcars blog