Garðabær

A seismic swarm near Hellisheiði in southwest Iceland produced around 400 earthquakes, with the largest reaching magnitude 3.3 and being felt in nearby communities.

A grass/wildfire broke out on Kjalarnes near Reykjavík, Iceland, on 3 May 2026. The local fire brigade responded with one vehicle and reported the fire was close to being extinguished, with smoke visible from Kjalarnes and near the foothills of Mount Esja.

New long-term hazard assessments by the Icelandic Meteorological Office place Grindavík and Hveragerði in the highest risk category for lava flows, with parts of Hafnarfjörður also close to very high-risk zones. The reports highlight threats to key infrastructure on the Reykjanes Peninsula, including geothermal power plants, roads, harbors, and drinking-water sources.

A male mandarin duck was spotted in the Hamarkotslækur stream in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, drawing attention as an unusual bird sighting.

Video captured in Selfoss, Iceland shows intense thunder and lightning on the evening of Easter Monday.

A small avalanche on Akrafjall, Iceland, swept two hikers about 50 meters downhill on April 4, 2026; no one was injured. The group warned other hikers as the Icelandic Meteorological Office issued avalanche-risk advisories in the capital area.

More than 100 Icelandic search-and-rescue volunteers were deployed during a storm that hit western and southwestern Iceland, with reported wind damage in Suðurnes, Akranes and Hvammstangi. The storm also caused difficult road conditions, driver assistance callouts, and a small snow avalanche that blocked a road near Patreksfjörður, stopping a minibus.

A lightning thunderstorm caused power outages across Iceland’s Capital Region and parts of South Iceland, disrupting hot-water district heating and forcing early closures of several public swimming pools.

A vegetation fire near Elliðavatn burned about 32 hectares, and firefighters said rough terrain and strong winds made suppression difficult. Authorities warned that dry, frost-damaged grass (sinu) and continued dry weather could keep wildfire risk elevated into spring.

Firefighters in Iceland’s Capital Region were close to putting out a vegetation fire at Elliðavatn when they received a report of another fire along Krýsuvíkurleið; a third fire also broke out in Vallarhverfi, Hafnarfjörður, and was extinguished.

Particulate (PM) air pollution across Iceland’s Capital Region is reported to be well above health-protection limits, with air quality in some areas classified as unhealthy.

Reykjavík is experiencing particulate air pollution well above health limits during calm weather, but authorities cannot apply dust suppressant because none is available in Iceland. Officials advise sensitive groups to consider staying indoors and to avoid strenuous outdoor activity near busy roads.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in samples from two wild birds found in the Reykjavík capital area of Iceland. Authorities urge poultry and bird owners to strengthen biosecurity and ask the public to report sick or dead birds.

Residents near Selfoss, Iceland reported an unusually vivid, colorful aurora display on the evening of 10 January 2026, captured on video. An Icelandic science communicator attributed the strong aurora to a solar eruption and favorable solar-wind magnetic conditions, with more activity possible later that night.

No snow was measured in Reykjavík during January 2026, making the month completely snow-free. A meteorologist says such conditions are very rare, with only a few comparable winters noted in historical records.

Reykjavík’s Health Inspection warns of high particulate matter near major roads in Reykjavík and Kópavogur during calm, dry weather, advising children, older adults, and people with respiratory illness to avoid busy roads and for the public to use alternatives to private cars.

A vivid red aurora was photographed over Selfoss around 2 a.m., a rare display caused by oxygen emissions high in the atmosphere. Photos also showed green fringes, with purple and pink hues possible when nitrogen is involved.

Most domestic flights in Iceland were canceled due to weather, affecting about 700 passengers. Icelandair cited strong winds aloft causing turbulence and icing; only early flights to Akureyri and Bíldudalur operated, with conditions expected to improve by tonight or tomorrow.

Iceland experienced intense cold overnight, with -19.8°C recorded at Sandskeið around 6 a.m., and meteorologist Einar Sveinbjörnsson says it is likely the coldest 30 October on record. Reykjavík dropped to just over -8°C, and an Icelandic Met Office table showed -20.2°C at Setur south of Hofsjökull overnight.

Reykjavík recorded 27 cm of snow at 9:00 on October 28, likely the deepest October snow on record, surpassing the previous 15 cm set in 1921. Heavy snowfall and poor visibility were forecast on the Suðurnes/Reykjanesbraut corridor with 50–75 mm precipitation expected.