Iceland weather in December
Iceland in December averages -1°C (31°F), 73 mm of rain and 0 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Iceland, December is the second coldest, the second wettest and the dullest.
- Average temp
- -1°C (31°F)
-4–3°C · 25–37°F
- Rainfall
- 73 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 0 h
hours per day
What is Iceland like in December?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Iceland in December?
A light rain jacket
About 73 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around -4°C (25°F).
December compared with November and January
December in Iceland is 1.4°C cooler than November and about as wet as it, which averages 1°C (33°F).
December in Iceland is about the same temperature as January and 12 mm wetter than it, which averages 0°C (31°F).
Daylight in Iceland in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 3 hours 42 minutes in Iceland, rising about 11:20 and setting about 15:02 local time.
December ends 42 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
No month in Iceland has less daylight than December.
Travel guides for Iceland
What to read before you book.
Iceland weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C / 31°F | 61 mm |
| February | -1°C / 31°F | 51 mm |
| March | 0°C / 33°F | 50 mm |
| April | 3°C / 38°F | 25 mm |
| May | 7°C / 44°F | 23 mm |
| June | 10°C / 50°F | 20 mm |
| July | 12°C / 53°F | 33 mm |
| August | 11°C / 53°F | 40 mm |
| September | 9°C / 47°F | 51 mm |
| October | 4°C / 39°F | 78 mm |
| November | 1°C / 33°F | 64 mm |
| December | -1°C / 31°F | 73 mm |
Similar weather in December
Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Iceland in December
December climate averages for Iceland, 1991–2020.
Iceland averages -1°C (31°F) in December, ranging from about -4°C (25°F) at night to 3°C (37°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 73 mm falls across December, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. December averages -1°C (31°F) and January 0°C (31°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
December is 1.4°C cooler than November, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is April to September; December sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 0 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 3 hours 42 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in Iceland.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 11:20 and sunset about 15:02 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 42 minutes shorter than it starts.
