Iceland
Reykjavík in January: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Reykjavík in January is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 2 °C, and the sea is about 5 °C. With about 22 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
8/100 · #12
Warmth
#12
Dryness
#12
Sun
#11
Sea warmth
#10
Published best categories: none
Reykjavík · JanuaryPhoto: rheins · CC BY 3.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 2 °C
- Average low
- -2 °C
- Sea
- 5 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 22 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 0 h/day
- Humidity
- 91 %
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 2 | -2 | 21 | 166 | 0.1 | 92 | 4.6 | 6 | 9 |
| January (selected) | 2 | -2 | 22 | 169 | 0.2 | 91 | 5.0 | 5 | 8 |
| February | 2 | -2 | 19 | 163 | 0.7 | 91 | 4.9 | 5 | 11 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: January (8/100)
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | +1 | +0.2 °C | +0.3 °C | -0.8 | -3.8 mm | -0.1 h | +0.3 % | -0.4 m/s | +0.6 °C |
| February | +3 | +0.2 °C | ±0 °C | -2.4 | -6.1 mm | +0.5 h | -0.4 % | -0.1 m/s | -0.2 °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 January?
The average daily high is around 2 °C, with an average daily low of about -2 °C.
Can you swim in Reykjavík in January?
The sea is about 5 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Reykjavík in January?
The curated estimate is about 22 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 169 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.