Your May weather guide
CoolWeather in Reykjavik in May
May is a good time for Reykjavik if you want long days and can accept cool, wet weather rather than spring warmth. Average highs are around 9°C, nights fall to about 3°C, and roughly 16 days bring rain. It suits travellers happy to pack layers and keep outdoor plans flexible. The main advantage is the daylight; the catch is that having plenty of time outside does not mean it will feel comfortable without a proper coat.
Long-term climate averages for Reykjavík, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Reykjavik, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Reykjavík.
- Average daytime high
- 9.3°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 13°C
- Average night-time low
- 3.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -1°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -7.3°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.8h
- 27% of 18.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 16
- 92 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 17.8°C
- 2006-05-08
- Record low 1991-2020
- -5.4°C
- 1997-05-06
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 6 min
- 1918 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How May compares
May is the 5th warmest month of the year in Reykjavik. Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Reykjavik is 7.3°C cooler by day and 5.0°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Reykjavik peaks at 9.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 12.6°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 3.3°C; one night in ten drops to -0.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 17.8°C (2006-05-08) and the coldest night -5.4°C (1997-05-06).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 16 days with 1 mm or more, 92 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2018 with 201 mm, the driest 2005 with 28 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 18.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 04:12 and sets about 22:36 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 73%.
Is May a good time to visit Reykjavik?
May is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Reykjavik on our scoring are June, May, July.
Pack for cold evenings, not warm afternoons
Treat May as a cool-weather city break. A daytime average of 9°C makes a warm layer and an outer jacket sensible even around midday, while evenings call for more insulation as temperatures head towards 3°C. The warmer days reach around 13°C or above, but that is a bonus rather than a reliable basis for packing. At the colder end, nights can slip below freezing, so gloves and a hat are reasonable additions if you expect to stay out late. This month suits travellers who prefer walking in cool conditions to dealing with heat, provided they are comfortable keeping layers on.
Long daylight, but keep rain in your plans
May gives you about 18 hours of daylight, so there is little need to squeeze every outdoor plan into the middle of the day. That flexibility is useful in a month with about 16 rainy days: leave room to move a walk when conditions improve rather than fixing everything in advance. Pack a waterproof outer layer and footwear you can comfortably wear in the wet. Sunshine averages about 4.8 hours daily, so do not confuse the long daylight with reliably sunny weather. The balance works best if you are happy to alternate time outside with indoor breaks, rather than expecting uninterrupted dry days.
A little perspective
Reykjavik through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.2°C | -3.5°C | 1.1 | 131 | 18 | 0% |
| February | 1.3°C | -3.5°C | 2.0 | 131 | 17 | 0% |
| March | 2.5°C | -2.6°C | 2.8 | 118 | 17 | 0% |
| April | 5.6°C | 0.0°C | 4.0 | 104 | 17 | 0% |
| MaySelectedbest | 9.3°C | 3.3°C | 4.8 | 92 | 16 | 0% |
| Junebest | 12.5°C | 6.8°C | 4.9 | 80 | 14 | 0% |
| Julybest | 14.3°C | 8.7°C | 4.4 | 86 | 15 | 0% |
| August | 13.3°C | 8.2°C | 3.7 | 104 | 16 | 0% |
| September | 10.3°C | 5.8°C | 2.8 | 134 | 18 | 0% |
| October | 6.0°C | 2.0°C | 2.6 | 121 | 15 | 0% |
| November | 2.8°C | -0.9°C | 1.5 | 121 | 16 | 0% |
| December | 1.3°C | -3.2°C | 0.9 | 133 | 18 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Reykjavik in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Reykjavik hot in May?
Reykjavik is cool in May: the average daytime high is 9.3°C and nights average 3.3°C. Days over 25°C are rare in May.
How much does it rain in Reykjavik in May?
Reykjavik sees about 16 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 92 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (201 mm) and the driest was 2005 (28 mm).
How sunny is Reykjavik in May?
Reykjavik gets around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 18.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Reykjavik compare with the UK in May?
Reykjavik is on average 7.3°C cooler than London by day in May (9.3°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Reykjavik?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Reykjavik reached 17.8°C on 2006-05-08, and the coldest night dropped to -5.4°C on 1997-05-06.
How much colder is Reykjavik than London in May?
Reykjavik's average daytime high is about 9°C, compared with about 17°C in London. The gap is roughly 7°C, enough to change your packing: bring warmer layers rather than relying on what feels comfortable at home in May.
Is May among the better months to visit?
Yes. May sits alongside June and July among Reykjavik's best-rated months, but that does not make it a warm or dry choice. Go for the long daylight and manageable cool temperatures, with waterproofs and flexible plans.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Reykjavík. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C