Iceland weather / North Iceland
North Iceland weather, month by month
North Iceland over 20 years of measurement (2006-2025), not description. Figures are the average across 6 places in the region; the table below each shows how they differ.
Wind: the part people underestimate
In North Iceland, gusts pass 15 m/s on about 9.6 days in January, the windiest month, and reach 20 m/s on about 3 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 North Iceland
| Month | Temp °C | Rain hours | Rain days | Gusty days | Snow days | Clear dark hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2.7 | 232 | 16.6 | 9.6 | 12.3 | 54.5 |
| February | -2.4 | 199 | 14.8 | 8.7 | 10.9 | 47.1 |
| March | -1.6 | 230 | 16.2 | 8.4 | 12.6 | 38.1 |
| April | 1 | 179 | 12.6 | 5.7 | 8.3 | 17.2 |
| May | 4.8 | 184 | 12.9 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 0 |
| June | 9 | 171 | 12.4 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0 |
| July | 10.8 | 182 | 13 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0 |
| August | 10.2 | 195 | 13.7 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 4.5 |
| September | 7.2 | 226 | 16.7 | 6 | 2.7 | 32.5 |
| October | 2.5 | 245 | 17 | 6.7 | 8.1 | 46.4 |
| November | -0.8 | 232 | 15.9 | 7.9 | 10.7 | 49.2 |
| December | -3 | 235 | 16.2 | 9.4 | 12.1 | 57.3 |
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 North Iceland
| Place | Clear dark hours a year | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|
| Mývatn | 408 | 72.1% |
| Ásbyrgi | 389 | 76.9% |
| Húsavík | 381 | 76.3% |
| Hvammstangi | 320 | 77% |
| Sauðárkrókur | 316 | 74.9% |
| Akureyri | 267 | 77.1% |
The short version
- Wettest: October, about 245 hours of rain.
- Windiest: January, about 9.6 gusty days.
- Warmest: July, averaging 10.8°C.
- Best for aurora: December, about 57.3 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 North Iceland