Iceland
Reykjavík in December: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Reykjavík in December is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 2 °C, and the sea is about 6 °C. With about 21 rainy days it is very wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
9/100 · #11
Warmth
#11
Dryness
#11
Sun
#12
Sea warmth
#8
Published best categories: none
Reykjavík · DecemberPhoto: rheins · CC BY 3.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 2 °C
- Average low
- -2 °C
- Sea
- 6 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 21 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 0 h/day
- Humidity
- 92 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 3 | -0 | 19 | 147 | 0.3 | 91 | 3.9 | 7 | 10 |
| December (selected) | 2 | -2 | 21 | 166 | 0.1 | 92 | 4.6 | 6 | 9 |
| January | 2 | -2 | 22 | 169 | 0.2 | 91 | 5.0 | 5 | 8 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: December (9/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | +1 | +1.5 °C | +1.7 °C | -1.6 | -18.6 mm | +0.2 h | -0.3 % | -0.7 m/s | +1.1 °C |
| January | -1 | -0.2 °C | -0.3 °C | +0.8 | +3.8 mm | +0.1 h | -0.3 % | +0.4 m/s | -0.6 °C |
All twelve months in context
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Where to stay in Reykjavík
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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Reykjavík in December?
The average daily high is around 2 °C, with an average daily low of about -2 °C.
Can you swim in Reykjavík in December?
The sea is about 6 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Reykjavík in December?
The curated estimate is about 21 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 166 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Reykjavík?
No month in Reykjavík reaches the threshold for a clear recommendation in the climate score; the month comparison above shows the differences.