Alerts & warnings

March 29-30, 2023: Orange weather warning!

Between Höfn and Egilsstaðir. Heavy blizzard with poor visibility and difficult driving conditions until midnight. Wind gusts up to 45 m/s (162 km/h). March 30: Extreme thawing and rain, increased runoff and rising waterlevels. Road closures expected.

March 28-30, 2023: Risk of avalanche in the Eastfjords, Westfjords and Tröllaskagi

High risk of avalanches (score 4-5 out of 5) in the mountains around the Eastfjords. Considerable risk of avalanches (score 3 out of 5) in the mountains around Tröllaskagi and Westfjords. Outdoor enthusiasts are asked to be careful when traveling in mountains and avoid areas where snow conditions are unsafe.

March 2023: Dangerous conditions by waterfalls and streams

Extremely dangerous winter conditions can arise at waterfalls and streams due to ice and near rock walls where ice can fall. Crampons and good hiking shoes are necessary in many places.

March 2023: Closed behind Seljalandsfoss.

Due to ice and danger of rock falling from the ceiling; the trail behind Seljalandsfoss is closed until further notice. Please respect the closed areas!

Fall Hiking/Camping Essentials

10. September, 2018

The midnight sun is long gone and fall has arrived in Iceland. Now that the seasons have changed your hiking gear will need to change a bit as well. Below is a list of some essentials for hiking at this time of year.

1. Headlamp

And extra batteries!

2. Heavy Duty Sleeping Bag

Temperatures can be around 0 degrees Celsius (32 F) at night so choose a bag with an appropriate comfort rating. It’s easy to cool down a bag that is too hot but not so easy to warm up one that isn’t hot enough. Sleeping bag liners can also increase the temperature rating of your sleeping bag by a few degrees.

3. Sleeping Pad

A sleeping pad isolates you from the ground which helps you retain more body heat by preventing the flow of heat into the ground. Choose a pad (or combo of pads) that adds up to R-value (insulation index) of at least 4 for comfort.

4. A Travel Plan

Tell someone where you are going, for how long you plan to travel, and who you are travelling with. You can leave a travel plan at our website safetravel.is. This service is 100% free and only takes about 5 minutes to fill out!

5. A Backup Plan!

If you find yourself in a difficult situation you will need a way to call for help. Always have a cell phone with you but be aware that phones lose battery MUCH faster in the cold. You can carry a portable battery pack with you for an extra charge. Another option is to rent a personal location beacon (PLB) from SafeTravel’s website safetravel.is.

For more specific packing lists see our lists here.