From the Monitoring Desk

Deep low approaching Iceland, bringing gales, rain and blizzard conditions

A deep low will approach Iceland tonight, bringing easterly gales and considerable precipitation tomorrow morning. Northerly winds will bring blizzard conditions to northwestern Iceland in the afternoon, spreading eastwards overnight. The weather will ease on Thursday. Keep up to date with weather warnings.

Major change in the weather expected on Wednesday

A very deep and compact low-pressure system is expected to cross Iceland on Wednesday, bringing strong gales, heavy precipitation and blizzard conditions to parts of the country. Forecasts for this type of severe weather are particularly sensitive to changes in the track of the low.

Information page for the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026

The Icelandic Meteorological Office has launched an information page for the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026. It is currently available in Icelandic, with an English version to follow closer to the eclipse.

Cloud cover is now available on the map at gottvedur.is/en

A new cloud cover layer is now available at gottvedur.is. It shows the forecast distribution of total cloud cover across Iceland for the selected time. A dedicated information page for the solar eclipse area has also been launched.

Final solar eclipse forecast: Best chance of seeing the Sun around Breiðafjörður and in the Westfjords

The forecast was issued at 16:00, about 45 minutes before the solar eclipse begins and just under two hours before totality.

Weather outlook for the solar eclipse on Wednesday, 12 August

Cloudy conditions are expected across most of Iceland during Wednesday’s solar eclipse. The best chance of breaks in the cloud cover will be around Breiðafjörður and in the Westfjords, while showers and only brief clear spells are expected in southwest Iceland. Cloud forecasts remain uncertain, so local breaks may still provide opportunities to see the eclipse.

Forecast issued at 11 p.m. on Tuesday 11 August, just under 19 hours before totality

Cloudy and wet conditions are expected across much of Iceland’s path of totality. The best chance of breaks in the cloud cover is around Breiðafjörður and in the Westfjords, although considerable uncertainty remains.

Afternoon update for the 12 August solar eclipse

Forecast issued at 16:00 on Tuesday 11 August

Morning update for the solar eclipse on 12 August

A low-pressure system south of the Reykjanes peninsula will bring cloud and rain to much of Iceland on Wednesday. The best chance of breaks in the cloud around the time of the solar eclipse will be in the Breiðafjörður region and the Westfjords, although their precise location remains uncertain.

Evening update for the 12 August solar eclipse

Forecast issued at 23:00 on Monday 10 August. The forecast period extends 43 hours ahead.