Summers can actually be relatively warm in Iceland, with various summer temperatures reaching as high as that of a typical English summer. The summer solstice is June 21st and so that means that every day after that gets a little bit less daylight. The glacier feeding it retreated by two kilometers (1.2 miles) in the last two decades and forced the escaping water into a different direction. Okjökull, a glacier in the east of the island, Iceland's Blue Lagoon unveils cool new luxury hotel. Average Temperature in Iceland The Midnight Sun in Iceland That is that, A, there’s going to be a lot more people at all of the tourist attractions, so you can expect areas to be a lot busier, it’s harder to find parking, and everything like that. June is when you’re going to be able to experience that midnight sun. "I'm in my garden and I'm sweating because it's 20 degrees and it's midnight and I feel this guilty pleasure because I know it's a bad thing, but. First things first, what is the weather like? In Reykjavík, during the warmest months, July and August, lows are around 9 °C (48 °F) and highs around 14 °C (57 °F), while on the north coast they are around 10/12 °C (50/54 °F). I would say that an average summer day in Iceland is around 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, a.k.a you’ve got to leave your shorts at home. Previously rare around the island, mackerel suddenly became abundant and Icelandic fishing boats wanted to take advantage of the shift. I promise you’ll thank me later and you won’t be paying like $500 a night for a basic hotel. The temperature is up around 12 degrees Celsius and all of the Highland roads are now accessible, so you can explore everywhere. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Icelanders and tourists alike are watching the changing landscape. The summer season boasts long days and pleasant temperatures. This year though, she'd happily spend evenings outside wearing short sleeves. Then in August you’re down to 16 hours. Another obvious pro is that this is the time when Iceland is in full bloom, so you’re talking about green luscious landscapes, the flowers, the trees, the sun, everything is in its peak color and beauty. It has also committed to plant more trees to mitigate the emissions that cannot be cut. May 14 – The day of President. These cookies do not store any personal information. Summer is very cool throughout Iceland. Make sure to give it a thumbs up, and let me know in the comments below, when are you coming to Iceland and what are you the most excited about seeing? Summer in Iceland; is there anything that’s more magical and amazing than Iceland in its prime? With the Summer Solstice on June 21st, you can experience the Midnight Sun from late May to the end of July. The warmest time to visit Iceland is during the usual European summer months of July and August. Historical maps show that glaciers have repeatedly shrunk and grown in Iceland. July was the hottest month on record in the Icelandic capital, with temperatures 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than the … Spring 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 … All rights reserved. (Weather station: Reykjavik Airport, Iceland). I'd like to receive the free email course. The heavy ice masses weigh down the ground, compressing what's underneath. The melting glaciers have other consequences. The summer has been so hot and dry that the water level in the famous Red Lake near Reykjavik dropped from 140 centimeters to just 70 centimeters, according to the Met Office. Since the late 19th century, when glaciation reached its most recent peak, they've retreated by 2,000 square kilometers. Good news - I've partnered with some of the best companies in Iceland to offer you deals on tours, rentals, and more! So like we just talked about, plenty of time for unlimited Iceland exploring. July is known as the hottest month in Iceland and one of the more popular months to visit. People at the site of the Okjökull glacier after a monument was unveiled there. "Over a period of about 10 days or a week, the Skeiðará river essentially dried up," said Andrew Russell, a professor of physical geography at the UK's Newcastle University who specializes in glacial systems. Showing: All Year Climate & Weather Averages in Reykjavik. This is the best travel period due to the best chance of clear and sunny days. In summer, July and August, which have a daily average temperature around 10 °C (50 °F), are the mildest and also the quietest months, with the lowest risk of wind. Spring might be the best time of year to visit Iceland—aside from the busy tourist … The regular July temperature in the southern part of the island is 10°C to 13°C, however warm summer days can reach 20°C to 25ºC. The Icelandic academic lives on the coast in Reykjavik and isn't used to sitting on her balcony without a blanket. Iceland in july: average Weather, Temperature and Climate, Where to go? In Reykjavík, the summers are short, cool, and mostly cloudy and the winters are long, very cold, wet, windy, and overcast. During years with heavy sea ice off northern Iceland, sea temperatures during summer can remain close to winter temperatures. Research by the Agricultural University of Iceland has indicated the country. According to the long-term supervision, the warmest summer month here is July. The average temperature during the summer in Iceland is around 10°C (50°F) but it can go as high as 20-25°C (68-77°F) and as low as 6-9°C (43-48°F). April 23 – The day of girls in Iceland. Summer in Iceland. The average temperature in Reykjavík is around 1-2°C (33-35°F) in wintertime and about 12°C (54°F) in summer. Iceland's fishing industry has seen the impact too. Iceland's summer season runs from June through September and can be surprisingly warm. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 28°F to … This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Check out weather averages and informations on this page. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This is basically when the sky is like always light. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. June, July, August These are the prime summer months in Iceland, especially July and August. The glaciers are shrinking because the amount of ice that melts away in the warmer summers is much higher than the ice that accumulates in the winters. The Earth's crust, the outermost shell of the planet, is thin in Iceland, and geologists are left guessing what will happen to the volcanic activity underneath it if it bulges more. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. "If there's less money flowing in, well, you will drain up your account.". Ögmundardóttir said the pace at which the country's scenery has been changing is worrying, even by Icelandic standards. Wondering what to pack for your summer trip in Iceland? So you can see that it changes quite rapidly. The temperature in Reykjavík can drop down to -10°C (14°F) in winter, or go up to 10°C (50°F), and during summertime, it can drop down to 7°C (44°C) and go up to 25°C (77°F). Sign up for my weekly emails to learn how you can save money. But 600 square kilometers disappeared since 2000. Skeiðará river isn't the only Icelandic natural wonder that recently vanished because of climate change. However, the average temperature in Iceland during summer is only 10°C (50 Fahrenheit) and the absolute warmest it gets is 20°C (68 F). I have seen Iceland when the temperatures can range up from 18 until 20 degrees Celsius, but this is so super rare, and I would not prepare for that. After the turn of the century, mackerel escaping warming ocean waters started mass-migrating into Iceland's territorial waters. The major con about coming to Iceland during the summer is that it is peak tourist season, and this means a few things for your planning which you want to keep in mind. Average Weather in Reykjavík Iceland. Based on weather reports collected during 1985–2015. The average temperature is about 11 degrees Celsius, much warmer than in the winter days. So the daylight hours vary a lot during the summer. And the most beautiful part about it, the days in July are still super bright with long daylight hours! So the first pro is that it’s the time of the midnight sun or the long daylight hours. In this period the temperature in Iceland is about +15-20 °C (59-68 °F). Summer (June-August): The summer season is the best and the brightest of all seasons in Reykjavik. Since its economic crisis in 2008, Iceland has become a. So Westfjords, highlands, and Landmannalaugar all in prime exploring condition. Next is that everything is way more expensive, so everything from tours to food to accommodation, everything is going to be more expensive because it’s peak season and they know that people are there and they’re going to buy it anyway. Get the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) updates for Iceland with current travel advice, statistics and online resources.. Below are average maximum temperatures at popular destinations in Iceland in June. Dry weather … So if the northern lights is something that you want to see and that’s a huge thing on your bucket list, summer in Iceland is not the time for that. The North of Iceland, on the other side, is dryer. The weather is still very unpredictable during the summer and we can have the sun shining one minute but raining the next minute. Hello, Team Iceland, my name is Jeannie, and you are in the best place possible if you have an Iceland trip coming up during the summer, because I am your tour guide and I want to tell you all of the things. Temperatures in Iceland are generally mild thanks to the Gulf Current, with cool summers and mild winters. This could cause major issues to infrastructure, especially in ports that become shallower and more difficult to dock ships in. So in general, I usually recommend the Westfjords during the summer months, in general, just because it’s a lot easier traveling and driving around, you don’t have to worry about the stony roads or anything like that. This fits with the view that the recent warming is in part a local natural temperature change, superimposed on a l… Lastly with peak tourist season, is to really, really note that because so many people are traveling to Iceland during the summer, those accommodation spots are going to book up months and months and months in advance. May-Sep is the best time to visit Iceland if you want to go whale watching; you can combine orcas with Northern Lights in late Sep. Jun-Aug offer endless days, low 20s warmth plus summer festivals. Is it the perfect time to go to Reykjavik and Hofn? But all that effort has one major problem. In summer (June, July and August) Iceland has an average temperature between 10˚C and 14˚C (50-57 degrees Fahrenheit). Today's Reykjavík, Iceland water temperature. If you want to avoid the summer crowds, you can also visit Iceland … You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Iceland's far north ocean location makes for fluctuating weather. Let’s get into it. The day time temperatures remain between 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. I hope you love this video. Temperatures usually average around 57 F (14 C), but highs up to 68 F (20 C) aren't unheard of. Sea temperatures rise to over +10°C at the south- and west coasts of Iceland during the summer, slightly over +8°C at the north coast, but are coolest at the east coast where summer sea temperatures remain below +8°C. Another really, really nice thing about summer is that all of the animals are out and exploring, and then the animals that migrate away from Iceland during the winter season are in Iceland during the summer, so whales, puffins, along with your normal sheep, horses and all of those wonderful creatures. Iceland weather in June 2021. Summer is also Reykjavik's driest season; on average, the city receives around a … Lastly, the con of coming during summer is that you’re not going to be able to experience the northern lights. The National Association of Fisheries said salmon fishing slumped by a half compared to last summer. In June, you’re going to find around 20 to 22 hours of daylight. The temperatures during this time of year range from anywhere from 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, or 7 up to 15 or 16 degrees Celsius. I promise to keep your email address safe. There are some flipsides. Then, in 2009, it almost completely disappeared. All right, my friends, that is all for today about summer in Iceland. So the first thing to note is, when I refer to summer I am talking about June, July and August, it’s a short window. Summer. The drought also caused fewer salmon to swim up Iceland's rivers. All right, so let’s talk about the pros of summer in Iceland. So do yourself a favor and book as far in advance for your accommodation as you can. Current weather in Reykjavik and forecast for today, tomorrow, and next 14 days Everything’s at its peak, it’s beautiful, there’s so much to do and see, but we need to talk about things like daylight hours and weather, so you can plan for your trip the best way possible. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Keeping that in mind, let’s dip into the Climate in Iceland. Success! You should be lucky though, and have plenty of days with clear, blue skies. Iceland. High Temp: 58 °F. Iceland, especially inland and during winter, is frequently subject to abrupt and dramatic changes in weather that can sharply reduce visibility, as well as rapidly increasing wind speed and precipitation, and shift temperature. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This is pretty easy, this is a long list because obviously there’s a lot of pros to summer in Iceland. The warming in Iceland exhibited in the IPCC climate models is somewhat lower than the warming rates realized in Iceland in recent decades. The ground in central Iceland is rising by more than three centimeters (1.1 inches) a year, according to scientists at the University of Iceland. Iceland elected Katrín Jakobsdóttir, an environmentalist and leader of the Left-Green movement, as prime minister in 2017. The sector contributed 8.5% to the country's GDP and employs around 30,000 people during the peak summer season. Iceland's stunning landscape is attracting an increasing number of tourists. But in general, of course, summer is the most brilliant time for all of those long daylight hours, which is great for exploring. Best Time to Visit Iceland – Pros and Cons of Each Season, 5 Photos That Prove You Should Visit Iceland in the Winter, Best of Reykjavik: Sights, Arts, Food & Drink. Iceland is an amazing country that I definitely recommend you to visit, either in summer or winter; but if you don’t like the polar climate or wearing winter clothes, one of the best times to travel to Iceland is during the months of June, July and August. There was an error submitting your subscription. "When we talk about climate change, we almost always talk about sea level rises as a negative thing, so you would think 'oh, they have sea level drop, good for them'... but that's not the way it works," Björnsson said. A huge pro, in my opinion, is that summer is when access to the highland and interior roads are open, so access to Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork is what you’re going to find during this summer, so this is a huge bonus for those of you that want to get interior in the country, off the beaten path, and away from a lot of other tourists. Spring. June, July and August are the "official summer months" but May and September can also be very nice. I would say that an average summer day in Iceland is around 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, a.k.a you’ve got to leave your shorts at home. When they melt away, the land rises and the sea level drops. "It turns out that having a sea level drop can be just as much of a problem as having a sea level rise.". With the country's total population of just over 360,000, it's a significant sector. Near the Arctic Circle, you can see the midnight sun around the summer solstice (21 June), and for a period much longer as you head north. August is the last official summer month in Iceland, with average temperature around 10°C and sunshine all day. The average temperature in Iceland in July is 11°C (52F) with daily averages from 9-13°C. Average Weather in Reykjavík. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. (CNN)Helga Ögmundardóttir has been feeling a bit guilty this summer. See more current weather × Annual Weather Averages in Reykjavik. The wettest month is January with an average of 50mm of rain. Updated 0924 GMT (1724 HKT) August 27, 2019. "You can think of that as spending money from your account," said Halldór Björnsson, the lead weather and climate researcher at Icelandic Met Office. Sometimes the temperature can drop during the night to freezing temperature of around minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit) or even lower. So if you think of like those classic Iceland photos, this is the time that those pictures are taken. While this temperature feels good after the winter in Iceland, chances are, especially if you’re coming from a warm climate, you are not going to feel like the proper summer, it’s going to feel a little colder than you’re … This just means that the sun is out and it’s bright in the sky and you can do all of the things. I will see you here next week! "Nature here is really volatile and powerful and people just have to accept it if they want to live here... but the speed, it's totally new and it's enormous," she said. So at midnight it still feels like it’s the middle of the day, crazy, crazy for your mind, let me tell you. Right along with that is easier access to the west fjords. Into July, that number goes down to around 19 hours. Change does come quickly here. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. How is the climate in Iceland in july? The country is renowned for being cold, but temperatures are much milder during the summer months. Please try again. However, you’ll still have plenty of time to explore. On an annual basis Reykjavik has around 1300 hours of sun, 800 millimeters of precipitation and 225 precipitation days. The months of June and July see 24 hours of sunlight. The government has already increased carbon taxes by 50%, agreed to ban new diesel and gasoline cars from 2030 and put in place incentives to electrify its transport system. "We've seen these things happen before, we had episodes where there were some glaciers retreating, but now they are happening on a much bigger scale," Björnsson said. Coastal sea temperatures around Iceland Ocean temperature and marine climate data is provided daily by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Iceland's remote location means flights and cruise ships are the only way to bring tourists in. A plaque now commemorates the recently vanished Okjökull glacier. While this temperature feels good after the winter in Iceland, chances are, especially if you’re coming from a warm climate, you are not going to feel like the proper summer, it’s going to feel a little colder than you’re used to. Don't worry - I got you covered so you don't forget a thing. Skeiðará used to be one of the island's biggest glacial rivers. Temperatures during the summer months is an average of 14.5 °C in July. To the end of the 21st century the warming rate is projected to be 0.16-0.28°C per decade, yielding a warming of 1.4-2.4°C at the end of the century, based on the results of the climate models used in the IPCC AR4 report (2007) and different IPCC SRES scenarios. The lake looks more like a bog now. The average temperature for Iceland in July is between 10°C and 15°C (about 50°-59° Fahrenheit) and can bring us about 18 hours of daylight (less by the end of the month). bad weather across 40% of the territory tolerable weather across 60% of the territory. Unlike many countries that struggle with the economic impact of climate change, Iceland could see some benefits -- at least in the short term. © 2020 Iceland with a View. Average July temperatures: High of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) | … What kind of weather do you need to be ready for? "There is concern that maybe we have too many tourists.". What to wear in Iceland during Summer What is the weather like in Iceland in summer? Now check your email to confirm your subscription. "There are concerns about greenhouse gas emissions related to tourism, emissions related to flying (and) land transportation with all the rental cars... and there's more and more concern about the pollution from the cruise ships," said Lára Jóhannsdóttir, a professor of environment and natural resources at the University of Iceland. Layering is key in Iceland, even in the middle of summer. Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Iceland. There's more to worry about. When Reykjavik's attempts to raise its official fishing quota fell flat, the country increased it unilaterally, sparking a multinational conflict dubbed the "Mackerel Wars.". The start of summer in Iceland is a period of white nights. Today we’re talking about the weather, the daylight hours, and the pros and cons about summer in Iceland. Select a destination to see more weather parameters. Spring arrives in April when temperatures begin to warm up and nature awakens from its … Under her leadership, the country has adopted a plan to become carbon neutral before 2040. On the other hand, the days are very long. Marine / ocean climate data updated daily, surface sea temperatures and recorded in degrees centigrade and farenheit. Reykjavik, Iceland: Annual Weather Averages July is the hottest month in Reykjavik with an average temperature of 11°C (52°F) and the coldest is January at 0°C (32°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 6 in July. 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