Reykjavík is rarely comfortable to be outside at midday. It comes closest in late July, and even then it is too cold. For walking, go from late June to August. Sunbathing weather is not what it offers.
When to go five ratings · thirty-six ten-day sections · click a cell to read it
Sun is not what Reykjavík is for: the Sunbathing rating tops out at 0, mostly because it is too cool. The clearest skies come in September, when the sky is typically 72% covered at midday (often cloudy).
Being outside is not what Reykjavík is for: the Easy outdoors rating tops out at 10, mostly because it is too cold.
For walking, go from late June to August. It peaks in late July, at 74. Avoid November to mid April for this: it falls to 0, mostly because it is too cold.
For snow, go in late December. It peaks in late December, at 57. That is a short window, about ten days a year. Avoid mid June to early September for this: it falls to 0, mostly because it is too mild. Snow here is a proxy: cold enough for snow to hold, with precipitation likely. It is not measured snow depth.
The year, measured
The average temperature in Reykjavík over the whole year is 5°C. July is the hottest month, with highs of about 13°C; December is the coldest, with lows of about -0°C. The rainy (wet) season in Reykjavík runs from September to March, peaking in February with a 42% chance of rain on a given day. The dry season is June to August; August is the driest month, at 20%. Winds in Reykjavík are highest in January, averaging 6.8 m/s (24 km/h), and lightest in July, at 4.1 m/s (15 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the E. The clearest skies in Reykjavík come in December, when the sky is typically 74% covered; July is the cloudiest month, at 81%.
Month by month Reykjavík climate by month: average temperatures year round · click a month to read it
| Month | High | Low | Feels like | Chance of rain | Cloud | Wind | Being outside | Sun | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1°C | 0°C | -7°C | 38% | 76% | 6.8 m/s | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| February | 2°C | 1°C | -5°C | 42% | 77% | 6.4 m/s | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| March | 3°C | 1°C | -4°C | 37% | 78% | 6.0 m/s | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| April | 6°C | 3°C | -0°C | 30% | 76% | 5.7 m/s | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| May | 9°C | 6°C | 3°C | 32% | 77% | 5.3 m/s | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| June | 11°C | 8°C | 6°C | 25% | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 2 | 0 | 45 |
| July | 13°C | 10°C | 9°C | 23% | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 7 | 0 | 69 |
| August | 13°C | 10°C | 9°C | 20% | 77% | 4.4 m/s | 4 | 0 | 66 |
| September | 10°C | 7°C | 5°C | 32% | 76% | 5.0 m/s | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| October | 7°C | 4°C | 1°C | 31% | 80% | 5.1 m/s | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| November | 3°C | 2°C | -2°C | 34% | 76% | 5.5 m/s | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| December | 0°C | -0°C | -6°C | 37% | 74% | 5.6 m/s | 0 | 0 | 1 |
High and low are the warmest and coolest of four readings a day — midnight, 6am, noon and 6pm — so a true overnight low can sit a degree or two under them. Chance of rain, cloud and wind are the day’s average; feels-like and the three ratings (each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80) are read at midday.
Seasons, and the year in short Reykjavík weather by season
Year round, Reykjavík has days of about 0°C at their warmest in December, its coolest month, and 13°C in July, its warmest; the coolest hours of the day run from -0°C to 10°C through the year, and the average temperature over the year is 5°C around the clock. Rain is most likely around February and least likely around August. Every figure here is a decade of observations blended into one representative year, so it reads as what this date is usually like, not a forecast for one particular day.
Reykjavík weather in winterDecember to February
Winter in Reykjavík has typical daily highs of about 1°C and lows of about 0°C, with a 39% chance of rain on a given day.
Reykjavík weather in springMarch to May
Spring in Reykjavík has typical daily highs of about 6°C and lows of about 3°C, with a 33% chance of rain on a given day.
Reykjavík weather in summerJune to August
Summer in Reykjavík has typical daily highs of about 12°C and lows of about 9°C, with a 23% chance of rain on a given day.
Reykjavík weather in autumnSeptember to November
Autumn in Reykjavík has typical daily highs of about 7°C and lows of about 4°C, with a 32% chance of rain on a given day.
When is the rainy season in Reykjavík?
The rainy (wet) season in Reykjavík runs from September to March, peaking in February with a 42% chance of rain on a given day. The dry season is June to August; August is the driest month, at 20%.
What time of year is Reykjavík windiest?
Winds in Reykjavík are highest in January, averaging 6.8 m/s (24 km/h), and lightest in July, at 4.1 m/s (15 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the E.
What is the average temperature in Reykjavík year round?
The average temperature in Reykjavík over the whole year is 5°C. July is the hottest month, with highs of about 13°C; December is the coldest, with lows of about -0°C.
Where to go instead in early January, the weakest time here for being outside
How this is worked out
Every figure is a decade of weather-station observations blended into one typical year, in ten-day sections. The ratings, the chart and the feels-like column are read at midday local solar time. Being outside is the Easy outdoors rating, Sun is Sunbathing and Walking is Active outdoors, each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80. They describe what a time of year is usually like here, not a forecast. The dotted links open the map at that time of year; set its time of day to midday to see these numbers.