The name Iceland, sounds pretty cold and indicates that the usual temperature isn’t especially high. Which is correct. But what is the weather really like in Iceland in summer?
Like you might have imagined, Iceland isn’t the summer destination for swimming in the ocean (even though quite many locals do) or sunbathing all day long (even though many do that too on the poolsides of the many geothermal pools around the country).
That being said, the difference between the temperature in summer and winter isn’t as big as in many other countries. If you ask me, I’d say we have relatively warm winters but cold summers. Depending a bit on where in Iceland, the average temperature in the coldest months (December and January) is only slightly under the freezing point. Or from about -0.5°C/31°F to somewhere around -2°C/28°F (it gets colder in the mountains though).
On the other hand, the average temperature during the summer months (June-August) is about 10°C/50°F. Some days the temperature goes over 20°C/68°F but these days are quite rare. Then again the temperature sometimes drops as low as 5°C/41°F. And then we’re not only talking night temperatures. It can actually happen during the day in the middle of summer.
What You Need to Pack for your Summer trip to Iceland
Even though we have higher temperatures and better weather in general in summer, it’s really important to be well prepared for all kinds of weather. Heavy rain and storms can mess up your plans whenever. Also in summer. It isn’t always stormy weather as such but it’s almost always windy. No joke. And the wind is usually pretty cold.
This means you need to bring different kinds of clothes with you on your summer trip to Iceland. Good rain gear is essential when the plan is to be out in nature the majority of your time here. A fleece or wool sweater is also a must. We’re not talking about a thin fleece. You want to bring a thick one. The kind you would usually think you only need in winter. Actually it could be a good idea to bring both. As I told you before, the temperature can swing a lot and different temperatures call for different clothing.
I personally prefer wool. When out in nature, I use wool for all my layers. My short and long sleeve t-shirts are made of thin wool and then I wear a thick wool sweater when needed. But that’s of course up to you. I’m also in love with my primaloft jacket. It’s so warm and cozy. But also light and easy to travel with as it takes up so little space in the backpack.
You should also pack some gloves, a hat and a bottom base layer. Hopefully you won’t need them but the odds are pretty good that you will. Better safe than sorry. Or worse, cold!
Besides the average temperature, there is one thing that is crucial to realise about the Icelandic weather. No matter the season, the weather is always very unpredictable and it can change fast.
There is a good reason why we have a saying that goes: “Don’t like the weather? Just wait a few minutes and it will most likely change.”
How Quickly the Summer Weather in Iceland Can Change
I would like to share a story with you about one of my most extreme experiences of how quickly the weather here in Iceland can change. This happened in the summer of 2021 and I’m still amazed when I think about it.
My family and I had stayed the night in Vík with some friends and the plan was to do a ATV tour on our way back to Reykjavík. It was a grey and rainy Sunday. On our way to the farm where our trip should start, it rained on and off. No rain. Light rain. Heavy rain. All kinds of rain.
When we only had a few kilometers left to our destination I sure wasn’t excited to get on this tour. The rain was so heavy that the windshield wipers couldn’t keep up. We saw absolutely nothing around us other than grey sky. We saw no mountains even though we knew they were right there around us. The visibility was really restricted. To put it mildly.
I even suggested to my husband that we should possibly cancel the tour but he said no. The kids had really been looking forward to this so we were doing it. No matter the weather. We would just make the best of it. And so we did.
When we arrived, we ran from our car to the house so we wouldn’t get soaked. There, everybody got a helmet and some heavy duty rain gear, matching the weather conditions.
Then when everybody was ready and we got outside again, we noticed it had stopped raining. When we drove off, the sky suddenly cleared up and the sun began to shine.
To make a long story short, everybody took (almost) all their clothes off on the first stop on this tour. Only few minutes after we took off. We got blue sky and sunshine the whole trip. Even the temperature was unusually high or somewhere around 20°C/68°F. It was an amazing day with a great guide and awesome weather in stunning surroundings.
Here you can read about the ATV company we used
All the pictures in this post were taken on this wonderful day. I wish I had some photos from earlier that same day so I could show you the difference. But what can I say? Taking some pictures wasn’t exactly on top of my mind while the rain was pounding like crazy on our car. Believe it or not!
With this story, I’m not saying the weather always changes quickly. And not at all so dramatically as on this particular day. Sometimes it stays the same for days. No change at all. For better or for worse. But the possibility is there and it’s strong. So you should always be prepared for all kinds of weather while in Iceland.
To Sum It All Up
- The average temperature in Iceland in summer is about 10°C/50°F so dress accordingly.
- You also need to be prepared for higher and lower temperatures plus some storms and heavy rain.
- Iceland is windy. Almost always. It just varies how strong the wind is.
- The weather in Iceland in summer is unpredictable and changes a lot. Even within the same day or the same hour. Therefore dressing in layers is key when out in nature in Iceland.
As the weather is constantly changing, it’s a good idea to watch the weather forecast. I wouldn’t let it control your actions completely though. But it will give you an idea of what to expect each day.
The Icelandic Met Office’s Homepage – Icelandic Weather ForecastLet’s close this weather discussion with another saying related to Icelandic weather:
“There is no bad weather. Only bad clothing.”
Something that’s good to keep in mind when traveling in Iceland in summer 🙂
Well, that’s it for now. If you liked this post and think some of your friends might be interested in reading it too, please help me spread the word. I’d really appreciate it if you’d share it on social media or just send it directly to a friend.
Until next time!
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