The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued a severe weather warning covering North Iceland, the Westfjords, and the highlands for a 24-hour period beginning at 06:00 on 14 October 2026 and ending at 06:00 on 15 October 2026. The warning describes strong winds, snow and sleet affecting the corridor between Akureyri and Bifröst, as well as highland routes. The advisory has been flagged by Safetravel.is as highly hazardous conditions.
Why this matters for photographers
October is one of the most rewarding months for photography in North Iceland and the Westfjords — autumn colour, early snow on the fells and longer nights for aurora work — but the combination of strong winds, snow and sleet creates serious risks for anyone driving mountain or highland roads during this period. F-roads and exposed coastal tracks in the Westfjords are particularly susceptible to rapid deterioration in these conditions. Photographers planning shoots at locations such as Dettifoss, Goðafoss or along Westfjords fjords should treat this warning as a concrete access consideration, not merely a weather inconvenience.
What photographers should do
- Check road status on road.is and the Icelandic Met Office forecast (en.vedur.is) on the morning of 14 October before departing, as highland and mountain roads may be closed or restricted.
- If travel is unavoidable, ensure your vehicle is rated for the conditions — a 4WD with winter tyres is the minimum requirement for any highland or exposed Westfjords route during a warning of this severity.
- Postpone non-essential shoots in the affected areas until the warning lifts at 06:00 on 15 October and road conditions have been reassessed.
For full guidance, see our Weather, Wind & Planning Tools for Iceland Photographers.
Source: The Reykjavík Grapevine — https://grapevine.is/news/2026/10/13/severe-weather-warning-with-heavy-winds-in-south-snow-and-sleet-in-north-iceland/