A Guide to Icelandic Weather

Today is Sumardagurinn Fyrsti, or, the first day of summer in Iceland. It's a national holiday held every year on the first Thursday after April 18th (or the second Thursday after April 11th, depending on who you ask). It's based off an old traditional Icelandic calendar which only had two seasons (winter and summer), and is modernly celebrated with gifts, parades, sporting events, happiness, and this year... little snow flurries in between blue sky.

Although I'm used to Utah's bipolar weather, I think Iceland wins in dramatics. I've seen it change from bright and sunny to blizzardy snow six times in one day before. Six! Times!

Exhibit A - These are two photos I snapped about 5 hours apart yesterday (full disclosure, it got even snowier than the first photo and even prettier than the second photo):

Y u so cray cray, Islensku?

But have no fear, dear reader, for I have a few rad protips to help you survive the cluster eff that is Icelandic weather (at least for months February-April since that's how long I've been here... you're on your own for the rest of the time).

ICELAND PROTIPS - WHAT TO WEAR

• Layers, so very many layers. And have a bag big enough to put said layers in as you need to.
• Something windproof and waterproof is a must. I wear a Merrell Wakefield coat which has served me well for the $100 I paid for it off the bargin rack last summer.
• Warm scarves save lives. Maybe not lives, but at least necks, chins, and lower ears from being too chilly. Plus they add a pleasant bundledy-up feeling.
• Those who sweater together beat the weather. This is not a real saying, but sweaters are really recommended when in Iceland.
• A hood, hat, buff, or some over head warming device. If I could change anything about my coat, it would be a bigger hood with fur or fur-like substance around the edges. The wind here rips your face off and hoods are the number one prevention of this. Plus if you have a cool fur lined hood you can pretend you're a wilding from Game of Thrones.
• Waterproof shoes. Iceland is puddly.
• Three words: fleeced lined leggings. Oh baby.
• Cozy socks that don't look too stupid. You always take your shoes off in people's homes, so just remember that when you go for your holy of holies in the back of the drawer.
• And lastly my sweet friend Björg summed it up perfectly when she told me "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes!". 

Gleðilegt sumar, everyone! Bless bless!