Iceland’s weather is cool, and the Icelandic climate is temperate. The warm North Atlantic Current ensures generally higher temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world. Iceland’s winters are mild and windy while the summers are cool which is typical for Scandinavia. There are some variations in the climate between different parts of the island. Oftentimes, the south coast is warmer, wetter and windier than the north. Snowfall in winters is more common in the north of Iceland. Iceland’s highest air temperature recorded was 30.5°C (86.9°F) in 1939 on the southeastern coast. The lowest temperature was -38°C (- 36.4°F) in 1918 at Grimsstadir in the northeast of Iceland. Temperature records for Reykjavik are 24.8°C (76.6°F) on 11 August 2004, and -24.5°C (-12.1°F) on 21 January 1918.

Iceland’s weather has a seasonal change in the length of day and night, creating unique weather phenomena. In midwinter, there is a period of little sunlight, and darkness prevails. Those dark days and nights are a phenomenon called The Polar Nights. This is a perfect condition to view another weather occurrence: the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). In midsummer, daylight takes over and there is no night darkness during June and July. The name for this is the Midnight Sun where you can be hiking in full sunshine at midnight.