A short distance from the city we find the Esian volcano, 914 meters (2,999 ft) high and covered with snow for many months of the year.
As is typical of Iceland, the weather is often unstable and windy. Snowfalls typically occur from October to April, although they rarely prevail over rain for long periods.
, from December to March, is cold, cloudy and windy, with very short days in the first part, which then gradually become longer (in mid-February, the sun already rises at 9:25 am and sets at 6 pm, while in mid-March, it rises at 7:45 am and sets at 7:30 pm).
During some periods, the temperature fluctuates around freezing, and rainfall alternate with snowfall.
There are also quite mild periods, in which the temperature reaches 7/8 °C (45/46 °F), but it often rains and a strong wind blows.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to -10/-12 °C (10/14 °F), however, it can occasionally drop to lower values. The coldest record is -19.7 °C (-3.5 °F), recorded in January 1971.
is cool, with fairly frequent rains. There are very cool periods, with highs of 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), especially in June, but also milder periods. On the warmest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 20/22 °C (68/72 °F). The highest record is 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) and was set in July 2008.
of Reykjavík is 64°09'N. On the shortest day of the year, December 21st, the sun rises around 11:20 am and sets around 3:30 pm. On the longest day, June 21, the sun rises at 2:55 am and sets three minutes after midnight (this happens because of the time zone adopted by Iceland). The
, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur from April 27 to August 15.
, from June to August, since it is the mildest season. However, there are often cloudy skies, rain and a bit of cold. Therefore, it is advisable to bring a jacket and a sweater even in the height of summer.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.6 °C, with a minimum of
-2.2 °C and a maximum of
3.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.5 °C in January 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
11.6 °C in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 12% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
21.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.5 °C, with a minimum of
-2.4 °C and a maximum of
3.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-14.4 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
10.2 °C in February 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.2 °C, with a minimum of
-1.8 °C and a maximum of
4.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9 °C. However, it dropped to
-15 °C in March 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
13 °C in March 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
21.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.9 °C, with a minimum of
0.8 °C and a maximum of
7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9 °C in April 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12 °C. However, it reached
17.1 °C in April 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.9 °C, with a minimum of
3.8 °C and a maximum of
10.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.9 °C in May 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15 °C. However, it reached
18.5 °C in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.1 °C, with a minimum of
7.1 °C and a maximum of
13.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.5 °C in June 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
22.4 °C in June 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12 °C, with a minimum of
9.1 °C and a maximum of
14.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.7 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
25.7 °C in July 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.4 °C, with a minimum of
8.6 °C and a maximum of
14.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
24.8 °C in August 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.8 °C, with a minimum of
6 °C and a maximum of
11.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.4 °C in September 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
18.5 °C in September 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5 °C, with a minimum of
2.3 °C and a maximum of
7.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.4 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12.5 °C. However, it reached
15.6 °C in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.2 °C, with a minimum of
-0.5 °C and a maximum of
4.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-15 °C in November 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10 °C. However, it reached
13.3 °C in November 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 20% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.8 °C, with a minimum of
-2 °C and a maximum of
3.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-13 °C in December 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9.5 °C. However, it reached
12 °C in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 9% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
21.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.