A total solar eclipse crossed Iceland on Wednesday 12 August 2026. The cloud forecast is published through maps covering different cloud levels and forecast dates.
The outlook for eclipse day
Iceland was forecast to be close to overcast from end to end. The best chance of a break in the cloud sat around Breidafjordur, and the Westfjords in particular, with northern Iceland drier than the south. The capital region and Reykjanes had the poorest prospects of the day.
That summary came from the afternoon update published by Gottvedur.is at 16:00 on 11 August, valid for 18:00 on eclipse day: the afternoon update for the 12 August eclipse.
Regional Cloud Outlook
- Capital Region and Reykjanes: Overcast, persistent rain or showers, and low chance of clearing.
- Snaefellsnes: Dry early, turning to intermittent afternoon rain, with a small chance of late breaks near Breidafjordur.
- Westfjords: Mostly dry for much of the day with high clouds and a better probability of medium-level breaks, especially in the northwest.
Sources: Gottvedur.is and RUV.
Why the altitude of the cloud decides your day
Not all of that overcast blocked the sun equally, which was the single most useful thing to understand on the day.
- Low cloud is what actually hides an eclipse. Breaks in it were expected in the Westfjords and the north.
- Medium cloud gaps were considered more likely in eastern and southeastern Iceland.
- High cloud is the least obstructive. Sunlight gets through it relatively easily, so a sky that reads as cloudy can still show the eclipse.
The forecasters attached a warning to their own maps: small gaps in a forecast cloud field should be treated with caution. A gap predicted a day ahead is not a promise.
Follow the live cloud forecast, not this page
This page is a guide to reading the forecast. It is not the forecast. Conditions on eclipse day were changing by the hour, and the fronts were still weakening as the last update went out, so the only sensible plan was to check a live source shortly before totality.
Gottvedur.is publishes the most detailed running commentary on Icelandic cloud cover for this event, in English, and was the site to follow through the afternoon. The official maps behind it are at en.vedur.is, from the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
Who publishes the cloud forecast for Iceland
Vedurstofa Islands, the Icelandic Meteorological Office, publishes cloud cover forecast maps for Iceland at vedur.is. The maps are the Icelandic Meteorological Office's published cloud cover forecasts.
Cloud is forecast by altitude, not as one number
The Icelandic Meteorological Office publishes separate maps for low and mid-level cloud, lower cloud, middle cloud and high cloud. A composite map is published alongside these altitude-based maps, giving the forecast several map views rather than a single cloud layer.
The forecast is for the days before, not the moment
The cloud cover maps are forecasts for dates ahead of the current date. They are published as a series of maps through each forecast day, so the forecast is presented across dates rather than as a single snapshot.
What the authorities ask you to do with it
Authorities recommended that people inside the path of totality watch from their homes or their local area. In most parts of western Iceland, it was possible to experience the eclipse from home or nearby surroundings.
Designated viewing areas were set up in urban locations. People were encouraged to use these areas rather than remote sites.
Roads before cloud
Travellers were advised to allow for longer travel times, arrive early, and delay departure until after the eclipse. They were also advised to bring medication, food, water and appropriate clothing.
Drivers were advised to make sure there was enough fuel or battery charge for the car. Traffic on eclipse day was managed with road closures and one-way routes in the path of totality. The plan was published by Vegagerdin at road.is, and umferdin.is carried the interactive traffic map for eclipse day, which was the one to have open when moving at all that afternoon.
Two more official sources were recommended before setting off: safetravel.is for conditions and alerts, and island.is for the national eclipse guidance, including the designated viewing areas.
Comparing Reykjavik tours
Checking sun times for the day
Check sunrise, sunset and day length for a chosen date and place in Iceland with the daylight tool.
Deciding with the forecast in hand
What the day looks like across the country is in the 2026 solar eclipse guide, and the places to choose between are in where to watch the eclipse.
If you are driving to one of them, read driving on eclipse day first. Booked seats avoid the question: see the eclipse tour comparison page.
