The Icelandic Met Office has issued a series of weather warnings covering much of Iceland for the weekend of 18–19 October 2026. On Saturday, yellow warnings are in place for the capital region, West Iceland, Breiðafjörður, the Westfjords, Northwest Iceland and the central highlands, with an orange warning — indicating violent storm-force winds — issued specifically for the Breiðafjörður area. On Sunday, a yellow warning covering the entire country is in effect due to strong winds and storms, with significant rainfall also forecast for southern and western Iceland.
Why this matters for photographers
The Westfjords and Northwest Iceland are popular autumn destinations for landscape photographers, and the orange warning for the Breiðafjörður area indicates conditions well beyond typical storm force, with wind gusts potentially exceeding 40 m/s. Coastal and highland locations across the country will be particularly exposed. Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly, affecting access to many key shooting locations throughout the weekend.
What photographers should do
- Check the Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) and road administration (road.is) for up-to-date warnings and road closures before travelling anywhere this weekend.
- If your plans include the Westfjords, Northwest Iceland or any highland route on Saturday, consider postponing travel until conditions ease — orange-level warnings indicate a genuine safety risk.
- Keep an eye on conditions even if your base is in Reykjavík or the south; the Sunday nationwide yellow warning means no region is unaffected.
For full guidance, see our Weather, Wind & Planning Tools for Iceland Photographers.
Source: RÚV English — https://www.ruv.is/english/2026-10-16-storms-across-iceland-throughout-weekend-490157/