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The Rift weather
What race day has been like in Hvolsvöllur, Iceland, the forecast when it’s close, and how to see the wind and rain on every stretch of the course.
- When
- July
- Base
- Hvolsvöllur, South Iceland
- Distances
- 60, 140, 200 km and the 330 km Abyss
- Terrain
- Black lava fields, highland tracks and river crossings
Live weather
Loading the weather in Hvolsvöllur…
Race day in past years
The weather in Hvolsvöllur on July 18, 7 AM to 6 PM, in each of the last 10 years. The race isn’t always on that exact date, but it shows what that time of year is like.
Loading 10 years of weather…
Measured for the base town. Out on the course, especially higher up, it can be colder, windier or wetter.
Forecast the course, stretch by stretch
The town forecast only tells part of the story. Route Forecast times the weather to where you’ll be on the course.
- Get the course from the race: a GPX file, or a Ride with GPS or Strava route link. Races usually publish it a few weeks before.
- Open Route Forecast and drop in the file or paste the link.
- Set the race start time and your pace. You’ll see temperature, rain and headwind, tailwind or crosswind for every stretch.
About the course
- Rough highland tracks across lava fields in South Iceland, with many stream and river crossings.
- Weather: Even in July, the Icelandic highlands can be cold, wet and very windy, and conditions change fast. It barely gets dark, which is why the longest distance can start at midnight.
Questions
What’s the weather usually like at The Rift?
Even in July, the Icelandic highlands can be cold, wet and very windy, and conditions change fast. It barely gets dark, which is why the longest distance can start at midnight. This page shows the weather in Hvolsvöllur, Iceland on July 18 in each of the last 10 years, from 7 AM to 6 PM: temperature, wind and rain.
When is The Rift?
July. The 2026 race was July 18.
Can I get a forecast for the whole The Rift course?
Yes. Get the course GPX file, or a Ride with GPS or Strava route link, from the race, and open it in Route Forecast (free, no account). Set your start time and pace, and it shows the temperature, rain and headwind, tailwind or crosswind on every stretch of the course, timed to when you’ll be there.
When will the race-day forecast be available?
Weather models forecast about two weeks ahead. Once the race date is set, check this page about two weeks before. Until then it shows the weather there now and race-day weather from past years.