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Reykjavik weather in December

Reykjavik in December averages 1°C (33°F), 97 mm of rain and 0.4 hours of sun a day.

Of the twelve months in Reykjavik, December is the third coldest, the wettest and the dullest.

Reykjavik
Average temp
1°C (33°F)

-2–3°C · 29–38°F

Rainfall
97 mm

Showers likely

Sunshine
0.4 h

hours per day

Wind
27 km/h
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What is Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik in December?

  • A light rain jacket

    About 97 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.

  • A warm mid-layer

    Nights drop to around -2°C (29°F).

December compared with November and January

December in Reykjavik is 1.5°C cooler than November and 11 mm wetter than it, which averages 2°C (36°F).

December in Reykjavik is about the same temperature as January and 11 mm wetter than it, which averages 1°C (33°F).

Daylight in Reykjavik in December

On 15 December the sun is up for 4 hours 12 minutes in Reykjavik, rising about 11:17 and setting about 15:29 local time.

December ends 37 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.

No month in Reykjavik has less daylight than December.

Where to stay in Reykjavik

Dates are a starting point for December.

All hotels in Reykjavik

Reykjavik weather by month

TemperatureRainfall

Source: MeteostatPeriod: 1991-2020Checked: 2 Sept 2026358 places covered

How December compares with the rest of the year

December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.

Reykjavik weather by month: average temperature, rainfall, sunshine and wind for each month, from 1991–2020 climate normals
MonthAverageRainfall
January1°C / 33°F86 mm
February1°C / 33°F87 mm
March2°C / 35°F84 mm
April4°C / 39°F56 mm
May7°C / 45°F49 mm
June10°C / 50°F41 mm
July12°C / 54°F50 mm
August11°C / 53°F66 mm
September9°C / 48°F87 mm
October5°C / 41°F80 mm
November2°C / 36°F86 mm
December1°C / 33°F97 mm

Similar weather in December

Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.

Check another month

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FAQs about Reykjavik in December

December climate averages for Reykjavik, 1991–2020.

Reykjavik averages 1°C (33°F) in December, ranging from about -2°C (29°F) at night to 3°C (38°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.

Some. About 97 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 (33°F) and January 1°C (33°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.

December is 1.5°C cooler than November, and 11 mm wetter.

It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; 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 0.4 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 4 hours 12 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in Reykjavik.

On 15 December, sunrise is about 11:17 and sunset about 15:29 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 37 minutes shorter than it starts.