Reykjavik, Iceland Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Reykjavik
Reykjavik spends most of the year cold. July, the warmest month, averages 56°F (14°C) by day - a figure many cities in our dataset pass in early spring - while January holds at 35°F (2°C) with 202 wet days a year across the whole calendar.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 56°F (14°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 35°F (2°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 70°F (21°C) high · 2°F (-17°C) low
- Wettest month: October (18 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (9.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: oceanic
- Annual swing: 12°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 4°C
- Snow: about 50 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 4
- Average humidity: 80%
Temperatures through the year
Snow falls on roughly 50 days a year, mostly October through May. Warmth peaks in July: highs of 56°F (14°C), lows of 47°F (9°C). January sits at the other end of the year: 35°F (2°C) by day, 27°F (-3°C) at night. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 70°F (21°C) and the lowest daily minimum 2°F (-17°C). Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 4 months, December through March.
Rain, sun and snow
Days and nights are about 4°C apart on average - narrower than almost anywhere else we cover. Relative humidity averages 80% across the year, more humid than roughly 84% of the cities we track. The wettest month is October (6.2 inches (158 mm) across 18 days) and the driest July.
How Reykjavik compares
- The city sees 5.7 hours of sunshine on an average day - duller than almost every other city we track.
- Reykjavik averages 40°F (5°C) across the year - cooler than almost every other city we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 202 days a year - more wet days than 91% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 27° | 18 | 6.0 in | 1.5 h/day | 5.3 h | 59% | 78% |
| February | 36° | 27° | 17 | 6.0 in | 3.4 h/day | 8.4 h | 60% | 79% |
| March | 37° | 29° | 17 | 5.2 in | 6.1 h/day | 11.5 h | 54% | 76% |
| April | 43° | 34° | 16 | 5.2 in | 7.5 h/day | 14.9 h | 55% | 78% |
| May | 47° | 39° | 18 | 4.8 in | 9.4 h/day | 18.3 h | 60% | 77% |
| June | 53° | 44° | 16 | 3.7 in | 9.1 h/day | 21.0 h | 54% | 80% |
| July | 56° | 47° | 16 | 3.4 in | 9.6 h/day | 19.7 h | 51% | 82% |
| August | 55° | 47° | 14 | 4.1 in | 8.8 h/day | 16.4 h | 45% | 82% |
| September | 50° | 42° | 18 | 5.4 in | 6.2 h/day | 12.9 h | 59% | 84% |
| October | 44° | 37° | 18 | 6.2 in | 4.3 h/day | 9.6 h | 59% | 84% |
| November | 39° | 32° | 16 | 5.1 in | 2.2 h/day | 6.3 h | 53% | 81% |
| December | 35° | 27° | 18 | 5.3 in | 0.7 h/day | 4.2 h | 57% | 79% |
Reykjavik month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Reykjavik's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 1.5 h
- Daylight
- 5.3 h
- Snow
- 11 days
February
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 3.4 h
- Daylight
- 8.4 h
- Snow
- 11 days
March
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 6.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
- Snow
- 8 days
April
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
- Daylight
- 14.9 h
- Snow
- 4 days
May
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 18.3 h
- Snow
- 1 day
June
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 21.0 h
July
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 19.7 h
August
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 16.4 h
September
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 6.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.9 h
October
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 4.3 h
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
- Snow
- 1 day
November
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 2.2 h
- Daylight
- 6.3 h
- Snow
- 4 days
December
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 0.7 h
- Daylight
- 4.2 h
- Snow
- 10 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Reykjavik
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Reykjavik is brisk and cold: 43°F (6°C) by day, 34°F (1°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 52 of the 90 days, plus about 14 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Reykjavik is mild: 55°F (13°C) by day, 46°F (8°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 46 of the 90 days.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is brisk and cold here - highs near 45°F (7°C), nights near 37°F (3°C), and rain falls on around 52 of the 90 days, plus about 5 snowy days.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Reykjavik is frigid: 35°F (2°C) by day, 27°F (-3°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 53 of the 90 days, plus about 32 snowy days. Sun is scarce, averaging 1.9 hours a day. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Climate questions, answered
What is the average temperature in Reykjavik?
Does it freeze in Reykjavik?
How sunny is Reykjavik?
Are nights cold in Reykjavik?
Best time to visit Reykjavik
June to September is the sweet spot for Reykjavik - these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year. Expect 54°F (12°C) in the afternoon and around 16 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in June.
Pack for Reykjavik with a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Even in July, lows of 47°F (9°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Reykjavik temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.