A major storm that hit Iceland at the weekend toppled lift towers and brought down lift cables at the country’s leading ski area of Bláfjöll.
A lightening strike associated with the storm may also have damaged lift motors but as power suppliers are currently down, the centre’s operators say they’re not yet certain of any damage.
A deep low brought wind speeds of 18-25 m/s and gusts up to 40 m/s to the region on Suinday evening. The strongest wind gusts of up to 65m/s (145 mph) were recorded near Hafnarfjall mountain.
“Unfortunately, there are some fun things that can happen in bad weather like yesterday. This tower on the top fell and the wires on a few lifts fell to the ground. We’re still without power, so it’s not known if there’s been damage to the lifts after the lightning. But we just hope for the best,” a Bláfjöll spokesperson said.
Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency management had put up an orange alert, the second highest level, for Reykjavik and South Iceland ahead of the storm.
