ICELAND'S WEATHER: WHAT CAN STOP YOU BEFORE THE RAIN DOES
- Roman Pech
- 15. 7.
- Minut čtení: 9
Over nearly thirty trips to Iceland, I've experienced three consecutive days of relentless rain, summer snowstorms, volcanic sandstorms, and winds approaching hurricane force. Yet I don't believe bad weather is the greatest threat to traveling in Iceland.
The greatest mistake is underestimating it.
The wind at Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon was so powerful that we couldn't even open the car doors at first. When we finally managed to get them open, tiny fragments of black volcanic rock and sand began striking the windows as the gale swept them horizontally across the landscape.
We eventually climbed out through the doors on the sheltered side of the vehicle, but it didn't help much. The wind, mixed with rain, volcanic sand, and small lava stones, stung our faces like thousands of tiny needles. Every step was a struggle, and within seconds it became obvious there was no point trying to continue.
Only later did my friend Pavla Dagsson-Waldhauserová, who was working for the Icelandic Meteorological Office at the time, tell me that wind gusts in the area had reached nearly 200 km/h (124 mph).
That was the moment I truly realized something.
In Iceland, rain isn't your biggest enemy.
The weather is.
Before visiting Iceland for the first time, most people imagine endless days of rain. After nearly thirty visits, I can honestly say that rain is often the least of your concerns. The real challenge is the wind. Within minutes it can transform the landscape, close roads, halt traffic, and—combined with volcanic sand or loose gravel—cause serious damage to vehicles.
Over almost two decades of traveling across Iceland, I've experienced summer blizzards, volcanic sandstorms, hurricane-force winds along the south coast, and three straight days of rain in Landmannalaugar. Every experience was different, but they all taught me the same lesson.
You don't fight Icelandic weather.
You learn to respect it.
🌧️ RAIN: THE THREAT EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT—BUT USUALLY ISN'T
Whenever you tell someone you're going to Iceland, you'll often hear the same response:
"Doesn't it rain there all the time?"
It's one of the country's most common stereotypes. And while rain is certainly part of Iceland's climate, reality is usually quite different from what most people imagine.
Over nearly thirty trips, I've seen countless forecasts predicting all-day rain. Instead, they often turned into a brief shower followed by sunshine breaking through the clouds. An hour later, the weather would change again.
That constant unpredictability is exactly what gives Iceland its unique character.
Rain also creates some of the country's most spectacular photography conditions. Waterfalls become more powerful, the moss turns an intense shade of green, mountains darken dramatically, and rainbows frequently appear beneath fast-moving clouds. Many of the photographs people associate with Iceland were actually taken shortly after rainfall.
Of course, there are exceptions.
The most memorable one for me happened in Landmannalaugar in 2009. (Link to article.)
I arrived at the campsite planning to spend several days exploring the area.
Instead, it started raining.
And it didn't stop.
For three straight days.
The rivers rose until they became impassable, cutting the campsite off from the outside world. Instead of hiking, I spent my time inside the tent listening to the rain drumming against the fabric, hoping the weather would finally improve.
In almost twenty years of traveling through Iceland, I've never experienced anything similar again.
That's why I always tell people not to panic when the forecast shows rain. Iceland's weather changes so quickly that in a single day you can experience sunshine, rain, strong winds, and even a rainbow.
There's something else that deserves far more attention.
💨 WIND: THE TRUE RULER OF ICELAND
If I had to choose a single natural force that shapes everyday life in Iceland more than anything else, it wouldn't be rain.
It would be the wind.
Across the open plains of the South Coast, in the Westfjords, or on Iceland's Highland roads, the wind can intensify within minutes to the point where driving becomes dangerous. Strong winds are one of the main reasons roads are closed, and the Icelandic Meteorological Office regularly issues warnings for severe wind gusts.
Many visitors are surprised to learn that wind is also responsible for a significant share of damage to rental cars.
On Reddit, travelers repeatedly share stories about a single moment of inattention.
"The wind can literally rip your car door off if you're not holding it."
Another traveler offered this simple advice:
"Always hold your car door with both hands. Icelandic wind is no joke."
Detached or badly bent car doors are among the most common types of rental car damage in Iceland. All it takes is parking in the wrong direction, opening the door during a powerful gust, and the wind does the rest. Local drivers follow one simple rule:
Never underestimate the wind.
Even when the sun is shining.
🌪️ VOLCANIC SANDSTORMS: WHEN BLACK SAND BECOMES NATURE'S SANDPAPER
When people think of deserts, they usually imagine the Sahara.
Few realize that one of Europe's largest volcanic deserts is actually found in Iceland.
Vast black plains across the island's south coast were formed by thousands of years of volcanic activity. Fine volcanic sand covers large areas in thick layers and, on calm days, appears almost harmless.
Until the wind begins to blow.
Tiny grains of basalt, lava, and volcanic ash are lifted into the air at incredible speed, turning the landscape into a natural sandblaster within minutes.
This isn't a rare phenomenon.
It's common enough that most Icelandic car rental companies offer a special Sand & Ash Protection (SAAP) policy. The reason is simple: standard collision insurance often does not cover damage caused by volcanic sand and ash.
When the Wind Starts Sandblasting Your Car
Travel forums regularly feature photographs of vehicles that, after a single storm, look as if they had spent years abandoned in the middle of a desert.
The glossy finish is gone.
Plastic trim becomes rough and dull.
Headlights turn cloudy.
Thousands of tiny impact marks cover the windshield.
One long-time contributor on Tripadvisor summed it up perfectly:
"The wind can throw rocks that shatter car windows and strip the paint off cars."
That is why Icelanders don't see volcanic sandstorms as a mere inconvenience.
They treat them as a genuine hazard.
The Storm That Damaged Dozens of Cars
In late September 2022, eastern Iceland was hit by an exceptionally powerful windstorm. Hurricane-force winds carried volcanic sand and small rocks across the region, damaging dozens of vehicles within just a few hours. The event was widely reported by Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV and quickly became a major topic on travel forums.
Among those commenting on Reddit was a traveler who experienced the storm firsthand:
"I was there. As soon as we turned the corner the winds went from 45 to 100 and rocks started impaling the cars. We could barely make it inside..."
Another Reddit user wrote:
"The few pictures I've seen are just incredible."
A local resident described the conditions this way:
"The wind in the east was insanely strong... comparable to a category 4 hurricane."
Photographs of damaged vehicles quickly spread through Icelandic media. On some cars, the paint had been sandblasted down to the primer. Others suffered shattered windshields, broken headlights, and severe bodywork damage.
Events like this are a reminder that Iceland's weather deserves respect.
How Expensive Can One Storm Be?
Many travelers hesitate when deciding whether to purchase Sand & Ash Protection for their rental car.
According to Icelandic rental companies, it's often worth every krona.
Repair costs can easily reach hundreds of thousands—or even more than one million Icelandic krónur.
Typical repair costs include:
Windshield replacement: ISK 150,000–350,000
Repainting several body panels: ISK 300,000–800,000
Extensive bodywork repairs: ISK 1,000,000 or more
For that reason, most Icelandic rental companies strongly recommend purchasing Sand & Ash Protection (SAAP), especially if you plan to travel along the South Coast or through areas covered by extensive black volcanic sands.
CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
Yes.
And surprisingly, it's quite simple.
Most of this type of damage doesn't happen because the storm couldn't be predicted.
It happens because people ignore the warnings.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office and the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration issue warnings well in advance whenever severe winds or volcanic sandstorms are expected.
Locals know exactly what that means.
They stop.
They wait.
And they continue their journey only when conditions improve.
In Iceland, the most important thing isn't sticking to your itinerary.
It's arriving safely.
Sources for this chapter
RÚV – Coverage of the September 26–27, 2022 windstorm and vehicle damage.
Reddit – "Sand storm damage in East Iceland" discussion (September 2022).
Tripadvisor – "Why Sand and Ash Protection?"
Blue Car Rental – Sand & Ash Protection information.
Lotus Car Rental – Sand & Ash Protection Guide.
🌦️ WHY ICELANDERS NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE WEATHER
After nearly thirty trips to Iceland, I've noticed one thing.
Icelanders never treat the weather as an inconvenience.
They accept it as a fact of life.
They don't say,
"We'll be fine."
They don't say,
"It probably won't be that bad."
When the Icelandic Meteorological Office issues a weather warning, most Icelanders simply change their plans.
It's not fear.
It's experience.
In a country where conditions can change within minutes, the biggest mistake isn't wearing the wrong jacket.
The biggest mistake is believing nothing will happen to you.
THREE WEBSITES EVERY ICELAND TRAVELER SHOULD KNOW
If you're planning a trip to Iceland, there are three websites you should know just as well as your map.
🌦️ Vedur.is
The official website of the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
Here you'll find weather forecasts, wind maps, and warnings for storms, snowfall, heavy rain, and volcanic sandstorms.
In Iceland, wind speed is often far more important than the temperature itself.
🚧 Road.is
The official road conditions website.
It provides real-time information about road closures, Highland road accessibility, roadworks, and traffic restrictions.
More than a few Iceland road trips have ended early simply because drivers failed to check this website before setting off.
A project run by ICE-SAR, Iceland's volunteer search and rescue association.
It offers safety advice, current travel warnings, and the option to submit your travel plan before heading into remote areas.
Every year, these services help prevent countless unnecessary accidents.
ICELAND'S WEATHER: RESPECT IT, DON'T FEAR IT
It may sound strange, but after so many trips to Iceland, I'm not afraid of its weather.
I respect it.
And there's a huge difference.
When meteorologists recommend staying put for a few hours, I wait.
When a mountain road is closed, I find another route.
When the wind is too strong to safely open the car door, I don't waste time wondering if I can push through anyway.
Iceland isn't trying to punish anyone.
It simply doesn't forgive unnecessary mistakes.
And perhaps that's exactly what makes it one of the most extraordinary places I've ever visited.
CONCLUSION: ICELAND IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE OF ITS WEATHER
As we drove away from Fjallsárlón that day, I felt we had missed one of the highlights of our journey.
We never saw the glacier the way we had imagined. We didn't take the photographs we'd come for. Instead of a peaceful walk, we spent several minutes battling fierce winds, rain, volcanic sand, and small lava stones striking both the car and our faces.
Only much later did I realize that this was the day Iceland revealed its true character.
Not the Iceland of postcards.
Not the Iceland of social media.
But a landscape that is constantly changing, living by its own rules, and reminding us that nature cannot be controlled.
Over nearly thirty trips to Iceland, I've experienced cloudless summer days, endless evenings beneath the midnight sun, dense fog, summer snowstorms, three days of relentless rain in Landmannalaugar, and winds approaching hurricane force.
And you know what?
I wouldn't remember any of those moments as ruined holidays.
Quite the opposite.
They're the memories that have stayed with me the longest.
So if you're planning your first trip to Iceland, don't wish only for blue skies.
Wish for weather that allows you to travel safely.
And if rain, wind, or a snowstorm forces you to change your plans, don't see it as an obstacle.
See it as a reminder that you're visiting a country where nature still has the final say.
Perhaps that's why so many people keep coming back to Iceland.
Not because they expect to see the same place again.
But because they know they never will.
About the Author
Iceland has fascinated me for many years. Over the course of numerous journeys across the island, I have driven tens of thousands of kilometers, experienced storms that changed travel plans within minutes, and witnessed days when choosing the right route meant discovering places that most visitors never see. I documented many of these experiences in my documentary film Island in the North.
Through this website, I share practical travel advice, up-to-date information, and firsthand experiences from the field to help others explore Iceland more safely and gain a deeper understanding of its unique landscapes and ever-changing nature.
Komentáře