Iceland weather in May
Iceland in May averages 7°C (44°F), 23 mm of rain and 5.6 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Iceland, May is the fifth warmest, the second driest and the second sunniest.
- Average temp
- 7°C (44°F)
3–10°C · 38–51°F
- Rainfall
- 23 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 5.6 h
hours per day
What is Iceland like in May?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Iceland in May?
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 3°C (38°F).
May compared with April and June
May in Iceland is 3.6°C warmer than April and about as wet as it, which averages 3°C (38°F).
May in Iceland is 3.4°C cooler than June and about as wet as it, which averages 10°C (50°F).
Daylight in Iceland in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 18 hours 47 minutes in Iceland, rising about 03:50 and setting about 22:37 local time.
May ends 3 hours 29 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 3 hours 5 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Travel guides for Iceland
What to read before you book.
Iceland weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May 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 |
Check another month
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FAQs about Iceland in May
May climate averages for Iceland, 1991–2020.
Iceland averages 7°C (44°F) in May, ranging from about 3°C (38°F) at night to 10°C (51°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. May sees only about 23 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. May averages 7°C (44°F) against 10°C (50°F) in June — 3.4°C cooler.
May is 3.6°C warmer than April, and about as wet.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, April to September, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 5.6 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 18 hours 47 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 21 hours 52 minutes in June and 3 hours 42 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 03:50 and sunset about 22:37 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 3 hours 29 minutes longer than it starts.
