Iceland weather / The Highlands
The Highlands weather, month by month
The Highlands over 20 years of measurement (2006-2025), not description. Figures are the average across 3 places in the region; the table below each shows how they differ.
Wind: the part people underestimate
In The Highlands, gusts pass 15 m/s on about 14.8 days in January, the windiest month, and reach 20 m/s on about 6.8 days. Above roughly 15 m/s you hold car doors with both hands — a door torn off by wind is one of the most common rental claims in Iceland and standard insurance does not cover it.
Every month in The Highlands
| Month | Temp °C | Rain hours | Rain days | Gusty days | Snow days | Clear dark hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -6.5 | 309 | 19 | 14.8 | 17.4 | 36.7 |
| February | -6.1 | 280 | 17.1 | 13.3 | 15.5 | 30.4 |
| March | -5.6 | 283 | 17.6 | 12.4 | 16.1 | 27.5 |
| April | -3.1 | 244 | 15.6 | 9.8 | 12.7 | 11 |
| May | 0.3 | 222 | 14.5 | 6.2 | 8.2 | 0 |
| June | 4.8 | 218 | 15.2 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0 |
| July | 7.4 | 243 | 16.6 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 0 |
| August | 6.2 | 232 | 15.4 | 4.7 | 0.5 | 5.2 |
| September | 2.9 | 300 | 19.3 | 10 | 5.8 | 16.5 |
| October | -1.5 | 271 | 17.8 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 28.6 |
| November | -4.6 | 251 | 16.2 | 12.6 | 13.2 | 36 |
| December | -6.8 | 269 | 16.9 | 13.3 | 15.1 | 45.7 |
Averages over 2006-2025. "Rain hours" is hours with measurable precipitation, which tells you more than millimetres do. "Gusty days" are days gusts reach 15 m/s. "Clear dark hours" are hours dark enough for aurora with a sky clear enough to see it.
Where in The Highlands
| Place | Clear dark hours a year | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|
| Landmannalaugar | 320 | 79.3% |
| Kerlingarfjöll | 201 | 82.2% |
| Hveravellir | 191 | 82% |
The short version
- Wettest: January, about 309 hours of rain.
- Windiest: January, about 14.8 gusty days.
- Warmest: July, averaging 7.4°C.
- Best for aurora: December, about 45.7 clear dark hours.
Every region
South Iceland · East Iceland · West Iceland · North Iceland · Reykjavik & Capital Area · Reykjanes Peninsula · The Highlands · Westfjords
Live weather map · When and where to see the northern lights · Things to see in The Highlands