Weather in Iceland in October
October in Iceland is deep winter. Days are short. The outdoor plan is a window in the middle of the day or not at all.
A country pin in October is a warning: one region of Iceland will not match another. Use a city page if you already know where you are going. Compared with July and February, October sits in the middle of Iceland's year.
- Average temp
- 4°C
1–7°C
- Rainfall
- 78 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 1.5 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Days in Iceland in October are about getting between indoor places. The cold is the story. Gloves are not a fashion choice.
A clear spell is for a short walk, then back in. Do not plan a long outdoor day as the default. Night falls early and the cold deepens with it.
Rain
October is the wet side of the year in Iceland, the wettest stretch on these averages. Days can be heavy. Plans that cannot survive rain are the wrong plans.
This is not a reason to skip Iceland if you like the place. It is a reason to pack for weather and to stop treating every grey hour as a failed holiday.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Iceland
Featured stays on trip1. Dates are a starting point for October.
Travel guides for Iceland
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Iceland
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in October
Other destinations whose October averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about Iceland
Climate averages for Iceland, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Iceland is between April and September, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 12°C.
October is the wettest month, with about 78 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
