Weather & Climate in Iceland

Weather and Climate in Iceland

Considering the northerly location of Iceland, its climate is much milder than might be expected, especially in winter. The mean annual temperature for Reykjavík is 5 C, the average January temperature being -0.4 C and July 11.2 C. The annual rainfall on the south coast is about 3000 mm, whereas in the highlands north of Vatnajökull it drops to 400 mm or less.

The weather in Iceland is on the whole quite changeable and depends mostly on the tracks of the atmospheric depressions crossing the North Atlantic. The passage of a depression some distance south of Iceland causes relatively cold and dry weather, especially in southern districts, while one passing north-eastward between Iceland and Greenland brings mild weather, moderately dry in the north.

Coastal areas in Iceland tend to be windy, gales are common, especially in winter, but thunderstorms are extremely rare.

Iceland's southern and western coasts experience relatively mild winter temperatures thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. July and August are the warmest months and, in general, the chances of fine weather improve as you move north and east. While they're more prone to clear weather than the coastal areas, the interior deserts can experience other problems such as blizzards, and high winds that whip up dust and sand into swirling, gritty maelstroms.

The weather in Iceland can change very rapidly so don't hesitate to check the weather forecast to see what kind of weather to expect. In the winter you can never be too cautious if you are planning to travel into the interior.

The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are often to be seen, especially in autumn and early winter.

Midnight Sun
For two to three months in summer there is continuous daylight in Iceland, and early spring and late autumn enjoy long periods of twilight. During summer the nights are bright throughout Iceland and in June the sun in the north never fully goes down. Special tours are offered to the island of Grímsey, which lies on the Arctic Circle, where visitors can experience the magic of the midnight sun.

The winter darkness (three to four hours' daylight) lasts from about mid-November until the end of January.

To check the current weather condition of Iceland please click here

AFFORDABLE HOTELS IN ICELAND

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