Iceland
Reykjavík in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Reykjavík in May is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 8 °C, and the sea is about 7 °C. With about 16 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
24/100 · #4
Warmth
#5
Dryness
#2
Sun
#2
Sea warmth
#6
Published best categories: none
Reykjavík · MayPhoto: rheins · CC BY 3.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 8 °C
- Average low
- 3 °C
- Sea
- 7 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 16 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 6 h/day
- Humidity
- 83 %
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 5 | 1 | 17 | 108 | 4.6 | 86 | 3.7 | 6 | 19 |
| May (selected) | 8 | 3 | 16 | 100 | 6.0 | 83 | 3.0 | 7 | 24 |
| June | 11 | 6 | 16 | 85 | 6.4 | 83 | 2.3 | 10 | 29 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (24/100)
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | -5 | -3.2 °C | -2.8 °C | +1.5 | +8.2 mm | -1.4 h | +2.8 % | +0.8 m/s | -1.7 °C |
| June | +5 | +3.2 °C | +3 °C | -0.4 | -15.5 mm | +0.4 h | -0.9 % | -0.7 m/s | +2.3 °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 May?
The average daily high is around 8 °C, with an average daily low of about 3 °C.
Can you swim in Reykjavík in May?
The sea is about 7 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Reykjavík in May?
The curated estimate is about 16 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 100 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.