Weather in Reykjavik in January
January in Reykjavik is deep winter. Days are short. The outdoor plan is a window in the middle of the day or not at all.
In Iceland, this is how Reykjavik actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. Compared with July and February, January sits in the middle of Reykjavik's year.
- Average temp
- 1°C
-2–3°C
- Rainfall
- 86 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 0.7 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 28 km/h
What to expect
Daytime
Days in Reykjavik in January 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
January is the wet side of the year in Reykjavik, 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 Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Reykjavik
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Reykjavik
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
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FAQs about Reykjavik
Climate averages for Reykjavik, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Reykjavik is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 12°C.
December is the wettest month, with about 97 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
