An extratropical cyclone brushed past Iceland on the afternoon of October 14, 2026, after developing from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias. Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida as a Category 2 storm on October 9, delivering a rainy, windy blow to the U.S. Gulf Coast and drenching much of the Eastern Seaboard before riding the jet stream east over the North Atlantic.
Satellite capture and rapid intensification
The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite captured an image of the extratropical cyclone as it moved past Iceland. During its journey, the system’s air pressure plummeted by more than 50 hectopascals over a 24-hour period, which is approximately double the criteria for explosive cyclogenesis, or bombogenesis. Some meteorologists believe the storm may have set a new October low for barometric pressure in Iceland, after correcting for altitude, likely breaking a record that has stood since 1963.
Impact on Iceland and Scotland
The low-pressure system lashed Iceland with high winds as it grazed the coast. A gust of 205 kilometers (128 miles) per hour was recorded near Eyjafjallajökull volcano in the country’s south, while a small island just offshore saw sustained winds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour. Damaging winds extended into northern parts of the country, where residents also braced for sleet and snow. Farther across the Atlantic, northwestern Scotland received gusts up to 90 kilometers (55 miles) per hour on October 14, resulting in cancellations on several ferry routes.
