Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
Home / Editor's Pick /

A volcanologist explains: Here's what's happening in Iceland

13:30
17 November 2023

A volcanologist explains
Here's what's happening in Iceland

We interviewed expert volcanologist Thorvaldur Thordarson to find out exactly why the Icelandic volcano is threatening an imminent eruption.

There is still a threat of a volcanic eruption in Iceland. After cracks and fissures appeared, an entire town was evacuated. Our weather reporter Marco Kaschuba is on the ground reporting on the situation on site.

On Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of the capital Reykjavik, a new volcanic eruption is likely imminent. According to Volcanologists, it is only a matter of days before the eruption begins.

Large cracks appearing on the roads.Drone shots of the geothermal power station, where they are building dikes to protect it from the lava.Large cracks appearing on the roads.Queues for hours as residents try to quickly collect their belongings from Grindavík.
1/4
Large cracks appearing on the roads. - © Weather & Radar

Volcanologist and Professor at the University of Iceland, Thorvaldur Thordarson, explains the situation on site in the video above.

Mandatory evacuations have taken place in recent days in Grindavík, where a magma channel lies directly beneath the populated fishing village. Residents were granted just five minutes each to return to gather personal belongings.

Police officers and locals also comment on the situation in the video above as they briefly return to Grindavík. Only one person from each home is allowed to return to collect essential items such as medicines and passports.

Also in preparation, makeshift defences have been put up around the Svartsengi geothermal power plant.

Despite seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula since slowing down and weakening, an eruption is still looking highly likely. The eruption could occur near the town of Grindavík, or out at sea.

State of emergency in Icelandread more
More on the topic
Wind map showing a powerful cyclone off the north-east coast of Australia. The red centre indicates a Category 5 storm near Cairns. The surrounding areas show strong wind patterns.
Thursday, 19 March 2026

Gusts of up to 177 mph

Extreme cyclone heads to north Australia
Weather map of the Alps with radar image. Above Switzerland and northern Italy, a symbol indicates snowfall in a large precipitation area over the western Alps.
Thursday, 12 March 2026

Lots of snow in the Alps

Temperature drop at the weekend
Weather map of the Canary Islands showing rain on the left and wind on the right. Gusts of up to around 70 km/h and widespread rainfall. The warning symbol indicates severe weather.
Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Heavy rain and storms

Severe weather on the Canary Islands
All weather news
This might also interest you
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Outline of Santa Claus with a yellow and white hat, "Ho-Ho-Ho" next to the outline above a Christmas tree.
Thursday, 25 December 2025

Merry Christmas!

Wishes from Weather & Radar
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday, 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList