Weather Words
Icelandic weather words and what they really mean.
Éljagangur
Showers of ice pellets from clouds.
Skafrenningur
Snow blown off the ground by wind. Reduces visibility drastically.
Hvassviðri
Strong wind, 20-28 m/s. Driving not recommended.
Stórhríð
Heavy snowstorm with strong winds. Roads may close.
Þoka
Fog in the air. Visibility drops significantly.
Súld
Fine rain drops falling in wind. Wet but not cold.
Slydda
Rain that freezes when it falls. Dangerous on roads — black ice.
Fönn
Light, drifting snow. Beautiful but sticky.
Kafald
Sudden brief snow squall. Visibility vanishes in an instant.
Eljur
Ice crystals falling from the sky. Indicates frost.
Mökk
Dense low-lying fog. Very dangerous for driving.
Hríð
General snowfall. Can be light or heavy.
Skúr
Short, sudden rain shower. Often in summer.
Logn
No wind. Rare in Iceland.
Gustur
Sudden gust of wind. Can shake a car.
Frost
Below 0°C. Roads can freeze over.
Hálka
Ice on the road. Very dangerous, especially on bridges.
Skafrenningsslydda
Snow that freezes on the road after drifting. Ice under snow.
Sólhlávarmi
Strong sunshine with frost. Radiation strong in spring.
Veðurhaming
Sudden weather change. Common in Iceland.