Iceland’s Unpredictable Weather
In Iceland, there’s a saying that goes, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” The weather is constantly changing here, often quite suddenly. It can change dramatically in the same place in a matter of seconds and also change drastically from one location to the next.
These sudden weather changes often make for stunning, dramatic photos; however, this is also one of the things that can make Iceland dangerous. With the vast scenery, you can see where there’s rain on your right-hand side, but the sun on your left.
The weather can be dramatically different depending on your location in the country. It can be sunny and pleasant in Reykjavik, where you start your day, but a snowstorm in the Highlands, where you end your day. This means you can drive through rain, snow, sun, wind, and fog, all within the same hour or even in a matter of a few minutes! Welcome to Iceland.
Additionally, you should never underestimate the windchill factor here. This means that you can hike through the same ever-changing conditions, so ensure you pack the correct essentials for all seasons.
When the weather isn’t ideal, don’t worry! There are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy, such as exploring museums and galleries. With the Reykjavik city card, you’ll get free access to a variety of cultural attractions and geothermal pools for 24 consecutive hours, making it the perfect way to make the most of your time in Iceland, rain or shine.
Whereas snowstorms mainly tend to take place in wintertime, they have been known to take place in the middle of summer. Snowstorms are more likely to occur in the Highlands, where you won’t find much shelter or traffic.
Hiking tours in Iceland are a beautiful way to explore the country and are very popular. However, when you go hiking in Iceland, you need to be prepared for any weather, even in the summer. This is not an occasion to pack light. Bring layers of wool or fleece, and avoid wearing cotton or denim, as they get cold and lose their insulation capabilities when wet.
The most popular hiking route in Iceland is Laugavegur, named after Reykjavik’s busiest shopping street. Even though it’s a busy route, you can still feel like you’re the only one on it.
In 2004, on a clear summer’s day at the end of June, a 25-year-old Israeli man started the hike from Landmannalaugar. He was poorly dressed in sneakers, light trousers, and a light jacket. The staff at Landmannalaugar warned him not to go hiking in this outfit since the route crosses a glacier and he might get cold, but he went nonetheless.
He called the Icelandic Search and Rescue teams four hours later and reported he was utterly lost in a thick fog and getting very cold. A team of about 70 people went looking for him, but he was eventually found dead, only 0.6 miles (one kilometer) from a hut where he could’ve found shelter from the cold.
This is just one example of someone killed in Iceland due to insufficient clothing. Many more have frozen to death in the cold and unpredictable weather. Never underestimate how quickly the weather can turn, and always make sure that you’re prepared for any kind of weather.
Iceland’s Strong Winds
Tour providers are usually aware of any conditions that could affect your safety and cancel or reschedule tours that could put you at risk. However, it’s always best to keep aware of changing conditions to ensure your safety.
In such situations, tour providers will either offer a different activity, issue a refund, or reschedule your tour to another day or time. This is common in Iceland, and tour providers are well-drilled in managing customers’ safety in Iceland’s ever-changing conditions.
Unfortunately, there have been cases where travelers have not heeded the warning of a red alert delivering cyclonic winds to West Iceland and the south coast. Sadly, this resulted in the death of two Chinese nationals in their twenties near the Solheimasandur DC3 plane wreck.
The best rule of thumb is not to travel if you feel unsafe in Iceland’s winds. If you are driving yourself, you should always slow down to a speed that you’re comfortable with or simply don’t travel. Always keep up to date with Iceland’s weather and road conditions daily and heed the warnings of locals who have experienced these conditions many times before.
Other Dangers in Iceland
We’ve listed the main dangers in Iceland. Whatever activity you plan on doing, be sure to keep all necessary information about the location before doing anything rash. Be sure to look out for information signs in the areas you are traveling as well. These will alert you to possible dangers both on the road and at various attractions around the country.
Other dangers in Iceland include falling into cracks in glaciers, getting stuck inside unstable ice caves, or burning yourself in hot springs.
Tourist Deaths in Iceland
There have been around 75 total incidents of tourist deaths in Iceland, which is a pretty low rate given how many millions of people have visited Iceland for adventure tourism.
Kristján Hlynur Ingólfsson, a developer of geographic information systems at Statkraft in Norway, has created an interactive map highlighting locations in Iceland where tourists have died in recent years.
Motivated by curiosity during the COVID-19 pandemic, he compiled data from news reports to identify areas with higher incidences of tourist fatalities. His findings indicate that three locations in South and Southwest Iceland are particularly hazardous for visitors.
There have been several fatal incidents at Reynisfjara black sand beach, highlighting its dangerous conditions. In February 2016, a 40-year-old Chinese man stood atop the middle rock in the picture above when a sudden wave took him out to sea, where he drowned. His wife and two children were with him but unable to save him.
In 2007, a 75-year-old woman from the United States got caught in a wave and drowned. Three people jumped in to try to save her but couldn’t reach her and put themselves in great danger at the same time.
Another tragedy took place in January 2017, when a German woman in her fifties was caught by a wave and washed ashore a couple of hours later. She was traveling with her husband and two children. Her son (in his thirties) also got caught by a wave but managed to return to shore alive.
In 2013, a four-year-old girl ran straight towards the waves, but fortunately, a guide reacted quickly and managed to run after her and swiftly pick her up before the next wave.
An accident occurred in 2022 when an elderly man in his 80s was swept away by a wave into the ocean. All of these incidents took place on nice and sunny clear days, so you can imagine what the waves can be like in the middle of winter when it can be stormy and snowing. So, please take extra care when you go to Reynisfjara and any other beach in Iceland.
There have been a few other incidents after that. The Coast Guard’s helicopter was called out in November 2023 because a man fell off the rocks when he was hiking on Reynisfjall. In September 2024, six tourists got trapped in a cave in Reynisfjara.
Now there are traffic lights by Reynifjara that everyone should abide by. It warns people of the sneaker waves, which have been by far the deadliest natural attraction in Iceland.
During the summer of 2024, there was a fatal accident in an insecure ice cave in Vatnajokull glacier.
Remember never to go hiking on a glacier or enter an ice cave unless you’re with someone who knows the area and the landscape extremely well. Only join in these activities under the supervision of professional guides. You can do that by booking guided ice cave tours.
Be careful around hot springs, and don’t step too close; you may not fall in, but the surrounding mud can be just as hot, and your feet could sink into it.
Take note that off-road and off-track driving is illegal in Iceland. The tracks can sometimes be hard to see but are still regarded as roads. If you can’t see a clear track, then you’re driving off-road, and you’re both damaging the local nature and possibly putting yourself at significant risk (at the risk of a hefty fine, at the very least).
Driving in the Highlands requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Do not attempt to drive in the Highlands with a low-clearance car that doesn’t have a four-wheel drive; it won’t end well but rather expensively. Your car will most likely get stuck, and you may have to wait a long time before receiving help (as well as paying for the damages to the vehicle).
Be careful when driving in Iceland, as there are many single-lane bridges. If you have an accident or get stuck somewhere, it tends to be a long way to the nearest gas station, police station, or hospital.
Although Iceland is a volcanic island, you don’t need to fear earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. No one has ever been seriously harmed directly due to an earthquake or a modern-day volcanic eruption in Iceland. That is the one thing you do not have to be afraid of in Iceland.