Climate Insights for Reykjavík

The climate in Reykjavík is cool. The average annual temperature is 5°C and approximately 1275mm of precipitation falls per year. Reykjavík receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Reykjavík is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to -3°C. Reykjavík experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

Reykjavík sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from -3°C to 14°C. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 14°C with a mean of 11°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -3°C and the daily average is -1°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between September and October, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Reykjavík is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1275mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 106mm per month. The wettest month is September, averaging 131mm of rainfall. February and January also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 74mm. That's 57mm less than September, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Reykjavík receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 228cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is February, with approximately 53cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

Reykjavík is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 14km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is February, averaging 17km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 12km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 5km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 16km/h in winter, 15km/h in spring, 12km/h in summer, 15km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Reykjavík, which began on September 23, 2026. Reykjavík is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 14°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -3°C. Winter is next, beginning on December 21, 2026 (87 days from now).

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Reykjavík based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.