Severe Storm “Diddú”, the strongest Icelandic storm in 25 years

A severe Storm "Diddú", the first-ever named Icelandic storm hit the island on December 7, 2015, bringing heavy rains, snow and hurricane force winds.

No injuries have been reported thanks to an effective warning system, although some ares suffered severe property damage. The violent storm was the worst to hit Iceland in 25 years, according to local media.

A violent Arctic depression brought abundant amounts of precipitation to Iceland, along with severe winds. The weather station Hallormsstaôaháls in East Iceland recorded wind gusts exceeding 25.5 km/h (160 mph), while a personal weather station in Bolungarvik on the Westfjords peninsula reported 154.5 km/h (96 mph) with maximum sustained wind speeds above 96.6 km/h (60 mph).

The strongest recorded winds were twice the strength required to attain hurricane force status on Beaufort wind scale. The fastest recorded wind measured 261.3 km/h (162.4 mph) in Hallormssta ôah áls in East Iceland

Areas of Eyjafjöll in South Iceland and Vestmannaeyjar in the Westman Islands have suffered the worst strom blow, as roofs have been pulled out of houses and ended up landing in neighboring yards. Two boats have sunk in Reykjavík Harbor and one container with household goods has gone airborne, local media reported. A bus shelter fell to pieces in Háaletisbraut, Reykjavik while in Kópavogur, a windowpane has been blown out of an apartment and numerous old windows shattered.

Video credit: Iceland Monitor

Rescue teams have been called out in the field for about 360 times and 700 workers have been included in rescue operations across the affected areas. Power outages have been reported across the country, flights have been canceled and schools shut.

Three storms have already hit Iceland this December, bringing a record 42 cm (16.5 inches) of snowfall. Although the amount has beaten the previous record of 33 cm (11.8 inches) for the month of December, an all time record of 55 cm (21.6 inches), set in 1937, still firmly holds its place.

Featured image: Iceland storm, Reykjavik Harbor, December 7, 2015.