Snow drift measures have been proposed as a part of a protection plan above the avalanche prone Urðir area in Patreksfjörður in western Iceland. The appraisal study was conducted by VST Consulting engineers Ltd. in co-operation with a specialist on snow drift measures at the SLF in Switzerland. Snow drift is the main reason for snow accumulation in starting zones of avalanches in the area and the break up of cornices is known to have initiated some of the largest avalanches in the area. The flat mountain plateau above Patreksfjörður, coupled with the local weather conditions lead to feasible conditions for the construction of snow fences in order to reduce snow drift into the avalanche starting zone below the mountain plateau. Wind baffles at the edge of the plateau are additionally proposed to prevent the formation of large continuous cornices in the cliffs above the starting zone. High wind speeds on mountaintops in Iceland pose a problem to the design of the structures. The snow drift measures are considered to be extremely valuable to additionally reduce the avalanche risk in the complex situation of constructing suitable protection dams in the Urðir area. Snow drift measures have not yet been built as integrative avalanche protections above inhabited areas in Iceland and experience on optimal design and durability is thus lacking.