Iceland weather / Reykjavik & Capital Area
Reykjavik & Capital Area weather, month by month
Reykjavik & Capital Area over 20 years of measurement (2006-2025), not description. The region is small enough that one measuring point covers it, so these are the figures for Reykjavík rather than an average.
Wind: the part people underestimate
In Reykjavik & Capital Area, gusts pass 15 m/s on about 14.7 days in January, the windiest month, and reach 20 m/s on about 6.7 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 Reykjavik & Capital Area
| Month | Temp °C | Rain hours | Rain days | Gusty days | Snow days | Clear dark hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -0.5 | 257 | 18.6 | 14.7 | 10.1 | 68.1 |
| February | 0.1 | 230 | 16.7 | 13.5 | 9.4 | 58.8 |
| March | 0.9 | 239 | 16.7 | 12 | 9.4 | 51.1 |
| April | 3.6 | 250 | 17.4 | 11.2 | 4.5 | 23.1 |
| May | 6.7 | 237 | 16.9 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 0 |
| June | 9.8 | 207 | 15.1 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 11.7 | 213 | 15.1 | 4.9 | 0 | 0 |
| August | 11 | 213 | 14.7 | 4.9 | 0 | 10.6 |
| September | 8.3 | 269 | 19 | 10.7 | 0.1 | 38.8 |
| October | 4.4 | 239 | 16.8 | 10.7 | 1.8 | 65.7 |
| November | 1.8 | 208 | 15.8 | 12.2 | 3.7 | 76.7 |
| December | -0.6 | 221 | 17.1 | 12.6 | 9.5 | 92.7 |
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 Reykjavik & Capital Area
| Place | Clear dark hours a year | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 485 | 73.8% |
The short version
- Wettest: September, about 269 hours of rain.
- Windiest: January, about 14.7 gusty days.
- Warmest: July, averaging 11.7°C.
- Best for aurora: December, about 92.7 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 Reykjavik & Capital Area