Iceland’s Met Office expanded an existing landslide warning to include the northern Eastfjords on 1 October 2026, following confirmed flooding and debris flows in the region. Rainfall was forecast to ease by early Friday, 3 October. The warning represents a formal hazard-level notice affecting movement on roads and tracks in that area.
Why this matters for photographers
The Eastfjords and Seyðisfjörður corridor are popular autumn destinations, offering dramatic mountain roads, valley mist, and rich autumn colour through September and October. Debris flows and associated flooding can make mountain roads impassable or unsafe, and the steep terrain typical of fjord roads leaves little margin if conditions deteriorate. Even routes that appear passable after rain may be compromised by unstable material on slopes above.
What photographers should do
- Check the Met Office (vedur.is) and Vegagerðin (road.is) for current warnings and road closures before travelling any route in the northern Eastfjords; do not rely solely on conditions at your accommodation.
- Allow extra time when driving fjord roads in wet weather, and be prepared to turn back — a composition is never worth continuing on a road that may be at risk from falling debris or wash-outs above.
- Monitor whether the warning is lifted or extended before committing to shoots in the area, as further rainfall could delay the forecast improvement beyond early Friday.
If rerouting takes you onto unfamiliar tracks, stay on established roads and avoid parking beneath steep or recently saturated slopes.
For full guidance, see our Iceland in Autumn for Photographers: September & October.
Source: Iceland Review — https://www.icelandreview.com/news/eastfjords-landslide-warning-expanded-flood-reports-october-2026/