In winter, the weather in Iceland is almost as changeable as in every other season. A first week of barely wintry temperatures was followed by a second one with up to -10°C during the nights, which did not make sleeping in the car more comfortable. But even worse than the temperatures can surely be the winter storms of this island of the North Atlantic. On Snaefellsnes peninsula, we experienced what winter can be in Iceland. A severe blizzard with extremely strong winds and lots of snow made us stuck for almost a day in a small village called Ríf. Visibility was often less than 2m and getting out in this white insanity was a very special experience. After the weather calmed down however, the landscape was completely different and no less spectacular than before. Some sceneries where naturally reduced to the black of the volcanic rocks and the white of snow and ice. A really unique view that was.
A mountain side on Snaefellsnes peninsula. Notice the perfectly shaped layers of basaltic lava.
Around Grundarfjörður, the landscape was deeply wintry after an more than 24h lasting severe blizzard.
Even the fjord was partly covered by ice floes after a few days of really cold temperatures.
Possibly the most photographed mountain of Iceland – Kirkjufell. But the classical view is another and I tried to avoid it, looking for different ones.
Almost unreal scenes of black and white landscapes.
Wind shaped snow structures on a mountain pass on Snaefellsnes peninsula in backlight.