Evacuations Ordered in Iceland After Volcano Erupts Again

news image
Special Stories
18 Mar 2024 4:25 PM

The same volcano that has erupted 3 previous times this year has started up again. Near Grindavik, the volcano started erupting late Saturday night. The Icelandic Met Office said a 2.9 km (1.8 mile) fissure formed between Mount Hagafell and Mount Stora Skogfell.

The Met Office mentioned that the activity has waned noticeably over the past 24 hours but at times the lava was reaching speeds of one kilometer per hour (that's a little over half a mile per hour). While the pace of the lava has slowed considerably, if it makes it to the sea and rapidly cools, it could lead to some potentially hazardous gases. The Icelandic Met Office does not believe this is a likely outcome unless something changes.

A state of emergency was declared for the southern portion of the peninsula on Saturday, with "hundreds" evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa.

All Weather News
More
Significant Moisture Increases Flooding Threat for the Southwest This Week

Significant Moisture Increases Flooding Threat for the Southwest This Week

An area of low pressure in the Gulf of Califo

16 Sep 2026 1:20 AM
Tropics: LOW Chance of Development in Atlantic

Tropics: LOW Chance of Development in Atlantic

The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active

16 Sep 2026 1:15 AM
Rounds of Storms Increase the Flood Threat in the Midwest

Rounds of Storms Increase the Flood Threat in the Midwest

It's no secret that the Midwest has been the

16 Sep 2026 1:10 AM
Summer Heat Holds it's Grip on the South

Summer Heat Holds it's Grip on the South

No surprise here: More records were broken ac

16 Sep 2026 1:00 AM
No Hurricanes Yet in the Atlantic, A New Record

No Hurricanes Yet in the Atlantic, A New Record

For the first time in the satellite era (sinc

15 Sep 2026 10:00 AM
Active Pattern Takes Shape Across the Plains

Active Pattern Takes Shape Across the Plains

Monday proved to be an active severe weather

15 Sep 2026 10:00 AM
Storms Winding Down Across Northeast

Storms Winding Down Across Northeast

WHAT TO EXPECT Record rainfall has fallen acr

14 Sep 2026 1:10 AM