Iceland is an island that is almost at the North Pole. So it’s cold here. But this island is also a very windy place as well. A windy place Iceland is considered to be one of the windiest places in the world. Sometimes the blowing can last for weeks in the country. So Icelanders are very used to wind and stormy days. Because of how windy it is in this country, Icelanders have many words and concepts related to wind. So many that they are over 200 and it’s no joke.
So in this gene, I’m going to compile an art of some words and concepts from these 200 words and translate them and tell about them.
Different types of wind
Because of how strong the wind is in Iceland, there are all kinds of wind mixed with the environment. It depends on what the season is, what the environment is like and how strong the blow is at any given time.
Like a Bylur or blizzards. That is a storm with heavy snowfall. Wind and snow work together there and sometimes it is very difficult to see.
There is also Öskurok or Ash wind. This is when a volcano erupts. The ash that comes up during a volcanic eruption and is carried by the wind. The ash can go in anywhere because of how small and delicate it is. This is why flying near an eruption were ash is ash is so dangerous. She can damages the engines on the wings on the planes.
Moldar/sandstormar or mud/sand storms are also called completely black storms so that you can’t see out of sight. Because sometimes the blows is so muddy or sandy that nothing can be seen. When it is storm like this the weather pulls up the soil and all the loose soil and blows it away, creating these dust storms. If this is also that strong storm sometimes rocks can be blown up and create very dangerous conditions. As I said in the article about how the weather can be in Iceland.
When such a storm rages, it is good to have in mind equipment that can be used to protect yourself from the blow. If you have to go out or you can take it with you when you go for a walk. I talked about it in another article. What is the best way to see in a snowstorm or sandstorm.
The various word and concepts for wind in Iceland
Then in Iceland there are all kinds of words for wind, words and combinations of words for wind and after weather. Depending on how he blows. Like:
Stilla means no blowing.
The most common word today that people say over wind today is Rok.
Bál can mean both fire or strong wind. But then you say Bálhvasst or heavy wind.
Gola is a small blowing.
Vindstrengur dose means wind string. They can come down mountains and can be very strong and knock cars off the road, so be careful driving along mountains in stormy conditions.
Áhlaup or in English attack means in meteorology in Iceland when a strong wind blows over the country, but this often happens because Iceland is an island but not a continent.
Skafrenningur is a snowdrift that blows the snow with the ground and forms snow hills for example on roads and by houses. Also called Neðanbylur or ground blizzard and Skafald snow wave that blows over the steets.
So at in Iceland there is a lot of wind culture and Icelanders often predict the weather a lot. Then is lot of whether reflections when there is something to do or travel around the country. All year round in Iceland.