Weather in Iceland

Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is in the southwest of the country and experiences short, cool summers and long, wet and windy winters. The wettest month is January with an average of 50 mm of rain. Summer (June to August) can be surprisingly warm, and it's also the driest season, so it's a popular time to visit. Reykjavik is one of the cloudiest and coldest capitals of any nation in the world.

The northern port city of Akureyri is generally cooler than along the south coast and in Reykjavik because it misses out on most of the Gulf Stream. Although it's cold, Akureyri does not reach extreme levels like other places on the same latitude. Snow cover starts to build in October and melts in April, but depending on yearly trends, snow can sit on the peaks year-round. There's less rainfall than in the south due to wind patterns.

Temperatures in Hvolsvollur feel cold year-round, and as it's located on the south coast around 100 km east of Reykjavik, this town and wider region experiences similar wind and weather patterns to the country's capital.

Temperatures in the Westfjords (Flatey Island) are generally cooler across the board year round, and is the coldest area at sea level in Iceland because of the East Greenland Current – cutting through the Nordic Seas. Simply put, you'll need to rug up!