Ný lopapeysa tilbúin

Another new Iceland sweater finished

We had on Easter Monday (once again) a weather warning, this time even one orange weather warning. Snowfall, strong winds, wind speeds here in this corner of up to 36 m/s, i.e., just under 130 km/h (from 120 km/h one speaks of a 'hurricane').

So absolutely no travel weather, the police called on everyone to stay at home if possible and to avoid unnecessary trips at all costs.

We did that too - we watched TV, and I finally finished knitting a pink Lopapeysa (Iceland ic woolen sweater), which I had started here last summer, but then could no longer continue knitting after my terrace fall with the injured shoulder. But now it’s possible again - and now the Lopapeysa is finally finished!

The sweater is made of Icelandic Léttlopi wool, that is, the 'medium-thick' Icelandic wool.

The main color is '1412 - Bleik', which is pink, the pattern color is '1414 - Fjölublá', which is purple.

I am satisfied with the result!

The March was here in Iceland this year cold, wet month:

The average temperature in Reykjavík was with 0,2 °C  around 1.5 °C below average of the last 10 years. In addition, it amounted to the monthly precipitation just over 126 mm, that lies 56% above average of the last 30 years. On the other hand, in the capital 128 hours of sunshine measured - good 17 hours above the average. 

The last few days the weather was then very changeable, typical April weather, constant changes between rain and sunshine, and relatively windy. One moment I stick my head out the door because it’s so wonderfully sunny - then the next rain and hail shower hits me in the face!

But at least the snow has almost completely melted in the past few days. Yesterday in Reykjavík, we even saw crocuses in the garden behind the Parliament! A hint of spring is in the air - before in the air, as it is currently always said on the radio.

And it is getting louder outside again now. When I lie in bed in the morning, I can already hear it again birds. The geese are back again, at Easter the first sandpipers and black-tailed godwits were also spotted. Also the Arctic tern (kría) is here again - 11 days earlier than usual, they reported on TV today.

Neighbors have also already had the first one golden plover (lóa) spotted in their meadow. The golden plover is a migratory bird and overwinters on the British Isles or further south along the coasts of Western Europe. Normally, it returns to Iceland at the end of March or the beginning of April. The arrival of the lóa is considered here in Iceland as the 'arrival of spring'.

Even if spring is still a bit wet and windy at the moment!

P.S. from 10.04.2026:

I probably shouldn't have been so happy about the first hint of 'spring in the air' yesterday. This morning at half past five it looked like this again at our place - and it keeps snowing!

Translated from here.