Weather in Reykjavik in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Reykjavik. Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Reykjavik is 6.2°C cooler by day and 5.7°C cooler at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Reykjavik peaks at 1.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 6.5°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -3.5°C; one night in ten drops to -11.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 9.1°C (2019-01-03) and the coldest night -20.3°C (1994-01-24).

Rain in January

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 18 days with 1 mm or more, 131 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 1992 with 218 mm, the driest 2007 with 62 mm. Humidity averages 83%.

Sunshine and daylight

Around 1.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 4.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 10:57 and sets about 16:16 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 78%.

Is January a good time to visit Reykjavik?

January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Reykjavik on our scoring are June, May, July.

Expect cold days, with much colder nights possible

January is Reykjavik's coldest month, so pack for proper winter conditions rather than a slightly colder version of home. The average daytime high is 6.2°C below London's January figure, a noticeable difference when spending time outside. A warm coat, insulating layers, gloves and a hat are sensible essentials, with footwear that keeps your feet warm and dry. The averages also hide colder spells: the coldest 10% of nights fall to -11°C or lower. Although the warmest 10% of days reach 6.5°C or more, that is still cool. This is a trip for short outdoor stretches with opportunities to warm up, not lingering outside all evening.

Keep your daylight hours flexible

The main catch is the combination of frequent wet days and a short window for outdoor plans. January brings about 4.9 hours of daylight, with only around 1.1 hours of sunshine a day on average. Daylight does not necessarily mean sunshine, so avoid building your trip around clear skies. With about 18 rainy days, a waterproof outer layer is more useful than packing only for dry cold. Put the outdoor parts of your day into the available daylight and leave room to change plans when it is wet. Travellers who enjoy a slower pace with indoor breaks are better suited to January than those wanting to spend most of each day outside.