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The weather in 2021 was mainly favorable, wind speed was below average and stormy days were relatively uncommon. The annual mean temperature was slightly above the 1991 to 2020 mean at most stations, and it was considerably dry in all parts of the country. Snow conditions were remarkably light in the Southwest during the year. The number of snow-covered days in Reykjavík were only 17 and only once been fewer. The summer was exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry in the North and East, the warmest on record in many places in these regions and many maximum temperature records were broken. The monthly mean temperature reached 14 °C at several stations this summer. It is the first time that the monthly mean temperature reaches 14°C at any station since the beginning of observations. The year was sunny in Akureyri and the total number of sunshine hours in Akureyri has only once been more.

Please view this page for the latest information on seismic activity.

Update on 29.12. at 11:53

Since midnight around 90 earthquakes have been detected. Yesterday there were around 1300 earthquakes detected in the Reykjanes peninsula as a whole. This is a lot less than the day before when around 2300 earthquakes were detected.

The scientific Advisory board for the civil protection services met on the 27th of December to go over the situation near Fagradalsfjall. GPS instruments and satellite interferograms show that the magmatic intrusion is limited to a dike intrusion by Fagradalsfjall, similarly as in February and March 2021 before the eruption onset on the 19th of March.

Update 8.12. at 12:30

The Icelandic Meteorological Office elevated the aviation color code from yellow to orange on the 6th of December for Grímsvötn volcano when the seismic actvity increased above normal level in the aftermath of the glacial outburst (which peaked on 05.12). On that day a M3,6 earthquake occurred at 6:16 UTC and 15 more earthquakes occured within the day. However, yesterday (07.12) very few earthquakes were identified in the area and the geophysical parameters all showed normal values. Based on these current observations, IMO moved the aviation color code from orange back to yellow as there were no clear indications for an imminent eruption.

Since 18th of September no eruptive activity has been observed at Fagradalsfjall, but there are still small quantities of gas measured in the atmosphere. During the eruption a deflation signal was detected around Fagradalsfjall, most likely due to magma withdrawal from a deep reservoir which was feeding the eruption.

The National Weather Services of Denmark, Iceland, Ireland and The Netherlands are joining forces to jointly operate a new supercomputer and to bring significant advancements to short-term weather forecasting services.