Camping areas in Iceland face unprecedented rainfall challenges this summer

Camping areas in the southern part of Iceland are heavily soaked following recent rainfalls. The manager of the Selfoss campsite, Smári Jóhannsson, has reported unprecedented levels of rainfall this summer. Continuous rain throughout July has made conditions particularly challenging. “The problem is that it rains so often and so heavily. While it is typically damp, it usually dries out between showers, but now it hardly has a chance to dry at all,” he stated.

Despite the difficult weather, Smári has managed to section off parts of the campsite to alleviate the pressure on the wettest areas. In Grundarfjörður, the situation has also been tough, with some sections of the campsite needing to be closed at times. Nonetheless, guests have been understanding and cooperative, aiding in maintaining the site as best as possible, according to Kristín Halla Haraldsdóttir, the site manager in Grundarfjörður.

“Before the commerce weekend, everything was flooded. But thanks to the good cooperation with Icelandic travelers, we managed to protect our grounds well enough that they are recovering impressively now. If I can keep them in this condition until tomorrow, we will be in good shape,” Kristín added.

The summer has been marked by remarkable rainfall, impacting numerous camping sites and demonstrating the challenging climate conditions faced by tourists and site managers in the region.