Climate in Iceland: Temperature and Average Monthly Precipitation
Last Updated on March 21, 2018 by Berglind Ros
When making plans for our holidays, we cannot help but add the weather predictions to our organizer. Tours, schedules, clothes and pretty much everything must be adapted to the climate conditions. We are well aware it is impossible to know exactly what the weather is going to be like. Even for the professionals, as they can just provide an approximation. But we do can get a rough idea by checking the statistics. Here you have this Climate in Iceland: temperature and average monthly precipitation article! Information right at your disposal.
Iceland is well known for its changeable, unsteady weather. Regardless of the month, chances of having windy and humid conditions is basically an absolute truth. Things turn a bit different when we refer to temperature and precipitation. It does vary from month to month, though not greatly, it is enough to make a difference.
Temperature:
We said this before but it is actually something important to know. Many people have this idea in mind when they think about Iceland: They are going to freeze their butts off in Iceland. Yes, we are close to the Northern Pole but once again, thanks to the Gulf Stream, the temperatures here are milder and not as cold as they should be for our latitude.
Monthly Precipitation:
The climate in Iceland is windy and cloudy most of the year. We receive warm currents from the Gulf stream but also cold winds from the North Pole. The result is pretty much an endless fight between two titans making Iceland a humid, rainy country. Precipitation varies from North to South, being this last one the rainiest region of the country. The North of Iceland, on the other side, is dryer. Keeping that in mind, let’s dip into the Climate in Iceland.
We will use Reykjavik, the capital city as a reference for these averages:
January: The temperature in this month typically ranges from 0 ° to 1 ° C. Usually the coolest temperatures are in the late evening and early morning. This is the coldest month of the year.
Precipitation chances in January are about 50% and the average rainfall is 14mm. There are higher chances of this rain to be just rain alone and not snow.
February: Temperatures vary just a tiny bit compared to January. Averages are 0 ° to 3 ° C and it rarely exceeds 7°C.
When it comes to precipitation, February is a bit humider. Chances of rain are about 55% and average precipitation in this month is 14mm as well.
March: Climate in Iceland starts an increasing tendency. Average temperature in March ranges from 3°C to 4°C. Daily highest temperatures is about 8°C.
Chances of precipitation is a bit lower compared to the past two months, but rainfall is more abundant with an average of 15mm. Making March the rainiest month of the year.
April: Spring is already around the corner! Due to Climate in Iceland, spring is a bit delayed. Temperatures in April rages from 4°C to 7°C and it usually does not exceed 11°C.
The chance of rain in April decreasing greatly, from 53% we had in march down to 44% buy early April and about 37% by the end of April. Rain average in mm is 11.
May: In May, temperatures are definitely climbing up the scale with an average of 7°C to 11°C. Daily high temperatures can reach about 14°C.
Precipitation chances are even lower compared to April, with just a 36% chances of rain, with an average of 11mm this month.
June: Averages in June increases just by 2°C, ranging between 11°C to 13°C.
As summer is getting closer, the season starts to get drier. Chances of rain in June is about 30% with an average of 10mm.
July: summer and midnight sun are already here! With an average of 13°C-14°C.
Along with June, July is one of the driest months of the year with also 10mm. Chances of rain are about 31%.
August: Many people may think that in August temperature gets even higher. Truth is it actually decreases. August average temperatures are: 12°C-14°C.
When it comes to precipitation, August is humider with about 12mm. Chances of rain are about 34% to 44% bb the end of the month.
September: Now we are already on the way back to cooler temperatures. With an average of 9°C to 12°C.
Precipitation stays relatively under the same conditions as in August. 12mm and about 44% of chances of rain.
Climate in Iceland: Temperature and Average Monthly Precipitation
October: Temperatures averages are about 5°C- 9°C. And it is constantly cloudy.
Precipitation average is 13mm of just rain.
November: Days are indeed getting colder now. Averages are 3°C to 5°C.
In this month chances of snow are quite low, about 4% but the rain chance is 48% with about 12mm per month.
December: Winter is here! Average temperatures are 2°C to 3°C.
Chances of snow are now 9% and probability of just rain precipitation is 36%. It is not like the chances are lower, just that a part of the probabilities are also for mixed (snow and rain) precipitation.
