Air Quality Alert Issued as Dust Pollution Affects Akureyri and Húsavík in Northeast Iceland

Air Quality Alert: Significant Dust Pollution in Northeast Iceland

Residents in Akureyri and Húsavík are facing poor air quality, with vulnerable individuals advised to avoid outdoor activities. Dust particles are being carried into the area from the highlands due to strong southerly winds.

Meteorologist Þorsteinn V. Jónsson has reported that the current conditions are a result of dry weather in the highlands causing increased dust transfer into populated regions. He emphasizes that people with serious heart and lung conditions should minimize outdoor exposure, and strenuous activities, including outdoor exercise, should be avoided.

In Eyjafjörður, local resident Stefán Stefánsson expressed his astonishment at the level of pollution observed over the fjord, citing that the dust has primarily been transported from the highlands amid significant dryness. A yellow alert remains in effect for the central highlands due to rain, although conditions in the north of Vatnajökull are relatively dry.

Furthermore, pollution from the volcanic activity near Grindavík, both gas emissions and ash from shrub fires, is moving northwest over Vogar and Njarðvík, potentially affecting Snæfellsnes. Yesterday, high pollution levels were recorded in Njarðvík and Vogar; however, Jónsson noted that heavy rainfall in the area has led to some improvements today.

The weather forecast remains similar, with ongoing southerly winds and rain, suggesting that the volcanic pollution will continue to disperse northwestward.