Reykjavík weather month by month.
Iceland's weather is dramatic on the surface, "four seasons in an afternoon" is a real Icelandic saying, but the averages are surprisingly gentle. Reykjavík is milder than its latitude suggests. Here's the honest month-by-month breakdown, with numbers from the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
The one-line summary
Reykjavík has an oceanic-subpolar climate, cool summers, mild winters, plenty of wind, and a lot of days with something falling from the sky. Snow melts fast in the city; the wind is the underrated factor. Bring layers no matter when you come.
Averages at a glance
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Daylight | Rain/Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | −3 | 4h 30m → 7h 15m | 19 |
| February | 3 | −3 | 7h 15m → 10h 30m | 17 |
| March | 4 | −2 | 10h 30m → 13h 20m | 18 |
| April | 6 | 0 | 13h 20m → 16h 15m | 15 |
| May | 10 | 3 | 16h 15m → 20h | 13 |
| June | 13 | 7 | 20h → 21h | 12 |
| July | 14 | 9 | 21h → 19h | 12 |
| August | 14 | 8 | 19h → 15h | 13 |
| September | 11 | 5 | 15h → 11h 45m | 15 |
| October | 7 | 2 | 11h 45m → 8h 40m | 18 |
| November | 4 | −1 | 8h 40m → 5h 30m | 19 |
| December | 2 | −2 | 5h 30m → 4h 10m | 20 |
Averages from Vedur.is climate normals for Reykjavík (Veðurstofan). "Rain/snow days" = precipitation ≥ 1mm.
Month by month, what it actually feels like
January
Cold, dark, wet, occasionally beautiful. Snow arrives and leaves within days. Daylight goes from 4.5 hours to 7 hours over the month. Aurora season is at peak but weather is often cloudy. Prices at their lowest.
February
Similar to January but daylight is climbing fast, you'll notice the difference. Aurora is still peak-visible. Snow is common but rarely deep in Reykjavík. Great value month for a first winter trip.
March
The month where daylight tips into surplus, from 10.5 hours to 13 hours. Aurora is still visible early in the month. Snow melts noticeably. Roads open up in the lowlands. Weather is unstable. March can hit +8°C or blizzards.
April
Shoulder season. Days approach 16 hours by month-end. Puffins return to Látrabjarg and Vík. Aurora tapers off. Weather still unstable, one day snows, next day is 10°C sunshine. Ring Road accessible; highlands still closed.
May
Spring properly arrives. Days push toward 20 hours by month-end, no aurora, ever again until September. Waterfalls run at full snowmelt volume, which means you'll get soaked at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Trees start leafing (yes, Iceland has trees). Prices creep up.
June
Peak everything except aurora. Midnight sun, sun barely sets. F-roads start opening late in the month. Whales are at their most active. National Day 17 June is a citywide celebration. Warmest week of the year sometimes hits 18–20°C. Also peak crowds and peak prices.
July
Warmest month. Highs average 14°C, occasionally 20°C. All F-roads open. Full midnight sun. Reykjavík is at its busiest, book restaurants ahead. Rain still likely but less frequent than winter.
August
Peak weather quality. Slightly warmer than expected because ocean has warmed all summer. Wild blueberries in the highlands (mid-August). Menningarnótt (Culture Night) second-to-last Saturday, huge citywide celebration. Late August is arguably the best week to visit, warm, quiet, F-roads still open, aurora returns end of month.
September
Aurora returns around 10 September. Autumn colours in the birch forests. Weather still workable, highs around 11°C. Crowds drop. Prices reset. F-roads still open until snow closes them (usually last week). Consistently rated a locals' top pick.
October
Arguably Iceland's best month. Long dark nights for aurora, autumn foliage, most roads still open, no crowds, prices at their annual low. Weather is unstable but often clearer than deep winter.
November
Days shorten to 5.5 hours by month-end. Second-cheapest month for flights and hotels. Aurora is peak-visible. Highlands closed. Ring Road can have snow, but the south coast remains drivable. Perfect for a Reykjavík city break with day-trip aurora hunts.
December
Shortest days, 4 hours 8 minutes at the solstice. Christmas markets, 13 Yule Lads folklore, the world's biggest amateur fireworks display on 31 December. Weather is brutal on stormy weeks, calm and beautiful on others. Prices spike 20–31 December.
Rainfall
Reykjavík averages about 200 rain/snow days per year, one of the wettest capital cities in northern Europe. Most days it's only a bit of rain, but it's persistent. Autumn (October–December) is wettest; May–June is driest.
Snow tends to melt within a day or two in the city because temperatures hover close to freezing. In the countryside, especially on higher ground, snow persists.
Wind
The underrated factor in Iceland's weather. Average wind speed in Reykjavík is around 6 m/s (14 mph) year-round. Storms during winter can hit 20–30 m/s (45–67 mph), sustained, not gusts. This is why an umbrella is useless (they turn inside-out within an hour) and why the same air temperature feels much colder in Iceland than in Copenhagen or Amsterdam.
The wind chill effect: at 0°C with 15 m/s wind, exposed skin feels like −10°C. Wear a hood.
Watch for storm warnings. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (Veðurstofan) issues weather warnings colour-coded yellow, orange, and red. An orange or red warning is not a suggestion, cancel plans and stay indoors. The Icebreaker app surfaces active warnings automatically for your live location.
Daylight, the extreme range
- Summer solstice (21 June): Sun rises ~03:00, sets ~00:03. Effective daylight 21 hours, with a two-hour twilight in between where it never gets fully dark.
- Autumn equinox (~22 September): 12 hours daylight, similar to most temperate cities.
- Winter solstice (21 December): Sun rises 11:20, sets 15:28. Effective daylight 4 hours 8 minutes, plus ~90 minutes of twilight either side that's usable for photos.
- Spring equinox (~20 March): Back to 12 hours.
This has practical consequences. In midsummer, book blackout curtains or bring an eye mask, locals suffer from summer insomnia too. In midwinter, plan sightseeing between 10:00 and 15:00 while there's real light.
Weather sources to trust
- vedur.is, the official Icelandic Meteorological Office. Every reliable app and website pulls from here.
- road.is, the Icelandic Road Administration. Real-time road conditions, colour-coded.
- safetravel.is, trip registration + safety alerts.
- Icebreaker app, pulls all three above into one screen with your live location.
Ignore US-based weather apps in Iceland. Apple Weather and Weather Channel both underestimate Icelandic wind and often miss storms.
FAQ
What is the weather like in Reykjavík?
Oceanic-subpolar, cool summers (8–14°C average June–August), mild winters (−3 to +2°C December–February). Milder than its latitude suggests thanks to the Gulf Stream. Rain or snow on ~210 days/year. Wind is the underrated factor.
Does it snow in Reykjavík?
Yes, but less than expected, about 60 days a year with snow on the ground, mostly December–March. Snow often melts within a day or two.
How cold does it get in winter?
Reykjavík averages −3°C to +2°C in December–February. Extreme lows reach −10 to −15°C a few days a year. Wind chill makes it feel colder.
How warm does it get in summer?
Reykjavík averages 10–14°C in June–August. A warm day hits 18–20°C. Rarely "hot" by continental standards. Pack layers even in July.
How many daylight hours does Reykjavík have?
Summer solstice: 21 hours of sunlight. Winter solstice: 4 hours 8 minutes. Near equinoxes (late March, late September): 12 hours.
Is Iceland windy?
Very. Reykjavík averages 6 m/s year-round; winter storms hit 20–30 m/s. Wind chill makes weather feel much colder than the thermometer says.
Live weather in your pocket. The Icebreaker app pulls Vedur.is forecasts and safetravel warnings into one screen, so you can tell at a glance whether to wear the shell or skip the day trip.