Your November weather guide
CoolWeather in Reykjavik in November
Reykjavik in November suits a cold-weather city break, not a trip built around long days outdoors. Daytime highs average about 3°C, nights fall to around -1°C, and about 16 days bring rain. Go if you're happy wrapping up and keeping plans flexible around wet weather and limited daylight. If you want mild temperatures or plenty of time outside without heavy layers, this is a difficult month to recommend.
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
- 2.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 8°C
- Average night-time low
- -0.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -7.6°C
- London averages 10.4°C in November
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 1.5h
- 25% of 5.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 16
- 121 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 83%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 10.7°C
- 2011-11-08
- Record low 1991-2020
- -15.0°C
- 2001-11-28
- 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 November compares
November is the 8th warmest month of the year in Reykjavik. Against London's average high of 10.4°C in November, Reykjavik is 7.6°C cooler by day and 5.8°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in November
The typical November day in Reykjavik peaks at 2.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 7.6°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -0.9°C; one night in ten drops to -6.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest November day here reached 10.7°C (2011-11-08) and the coldest night -15.0°C (2001-11-28).
Rain in November
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 16 days with 1 mm or more, 121 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest November was 1993 with 302 mm, the driest 2000 with 24 mm. Humidity averages 83%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 1.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 5.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 09:56 and sets about 16:28 local time in mid-November. Average cloud cover is 75%.
Is November a good time to visit Reykjavik?
November is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Reykjavik on our scoring are June, May, July.
Proper winter clothing, even during the day
The daytime average is much colder than London's November high of 10.4°C, so don't pack as though you're taking a typical autumn break at home. A warm coat, insulating layers, gloves and a hat make sense, with warm, waterproof footwear for wet days. Nights average below freezing, and the coldest nights can fall to -6°C or lower, so evening plans need the same care as daytime ones. Milder days can reach around 8°C, but that is still coat weather rather than a reason to pack lightly. This month suits travellers who are comfortable dressing for cold conditions throughout the day, rather than relying on a warmer afternoon.
Keep outdoor plans short and flexible
Rain is a regular consideration, with about 16 rainy days across November, so a waterproof outer layer is more useful than hoping to dodge every shower. The other constraint is light: there are about 5.9 hours of daylight, with only about 1.5 hours of sunshine a day. Plan your outdoor time around the daylight available and leave room to change plans when it is wet. Daylight does not mean sunshine, so don't expect every usable hour outside to feel bright. A schedule with indoor breaks is a better fit than a packed outdoor itinerary. If long, light days are central to your holiday, choose a different month.
A little perspective
Reykjavik through the year
November 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% |
| Maybest | 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% |
| NovemberSelected | 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 November
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Reykjavik in November FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Reykjavik hot in November?
Reykjavik is cool in November: the average daytime high is 2.8°C and nights average -0.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in November.
How much does it rain in Reykjavik in November?
Reykjavik sees about 16 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 121 mm of rain in a typical November. The wettest November between 1991 and 2020 was 1993 (302 mm) and the driest was 2000 (24 mm).
How sunny is Reykjavik in November?
Reykjavik gets around 1.5 hours of sunshine a day in November out of 5.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Reykjavik compare with the UK in November?
Reykjavik is on average 7.6°C cooler than London by day in November (2.8°C against 10.4°C).
What is the hottest November on record in Reykjavik?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest November day in Reykjavik reached 10.7°C on 2011-11-08, and the coldest night dropped to -15.0°C on 2001-11-28.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 3 h 6 min, making Reykjavik a short-haul option. The journey is relatively brief, but the November temperatures call for proper winter clothing rather than light autumn layers.
Could I get milder weather in November?
Yes, but don't base your packing on it. The warmest 10% of days reach 7.6°C or more, compared with an average daytime high of 2.8°C. Even those milder days are cool enough to need a coat.
Which months are better choices for weather?
June, May and July are the better choices overall. If your dates are flexible and weather is the deciding factor, favour those months over November, whose cold temperatures, frequent rain and limited daylight make outdoor plans less straightforward.
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