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Reykjavik in January: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Discover the weather for Reykjavik in January and if it’s a good time to travel (based on historical data).
Check flight prices to Reykjavik on Avionero:
January

Weather in Reykjavik in January 2025

OK Weather
Chill
🌨️
Snowy
🌊
Cold water
January could be a good time to visit Reykjavik, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +36°F, and there are typically 3 sunny days in January. However, expect about 13 snowy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 71 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • January is usually the coldest month of the year in Reykjavik;

Average weather

☀️
+36°F
Avg. max. temperature
-4°F
Min.
+50°F
Max.
71 mm
Total precipitation
78%
Avg. humidity
5 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
7 ⛅️
Cloudy
7 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Reykjavik has OK weather in January.

Average temperature in Reykjavik in January

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Reykjavik for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The expected average maximum temperature in January is +34°F with a maximum of +46°F and a minimum of +9°F.

The average maximum temperature goes up 14% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +30°F to +36°F.

Is Reykjavik warm or cold in January?

Reykjavik is typically chill in January.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +37°F to +36°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +28°F to +27°F.

Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.

January is the coldest month in Reykjavik, here is the comparison with other months:

Water temperature in Reykjavik in January

Water in Reykjavik in January is Cold. It varies from +41°F to +43°F, with an average of +42°F. Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +36°F.

The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:

The warmest water temperatures in Reykjavik are reached in July, when the average sea temperature rises to +53°F. The coldest water temperatures are in March, with an average of +41°F.

Can you swim in Reykjavik in January?

We would not recommend swimming in Reykjavik in January, the water is very cold (+42°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.

Climate in Reykjavik in January

Reykjavik weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
DecemberJanuaryFebruary
Avg. temperature
+37°F+36°F+37°F
Min. temperature
-2°F-4°F+1°F
Max. temperature
+54°F+50°F+50°F
Rainfall
69 mm71 mm72 mm
Wind
5 m/s5 m/s5 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+44°F+42°F+42°F
Humidity
78%78%77%
Air pressure
998 HPa997 HPa998 HPa
Sunny days
433
Cloudy days
776
Rainy days
877
Snowy days
121313

January weather is still as ok as in December. It’s getting colder in January. From +37°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +36°F. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 69 mm to 71 mm. Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 78%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 5 m/s. The days becoming less sunny, going from 4 sunny days in December to 3 in January.

February brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Reykjavik in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 5 m/s getting up to 14 m/s which is quite strong. The wind will cause branches to move and ground debris to fly around.

The average wind speed in Reykjavik is gradually increasing during January, going from 4 m/s to 6 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Reykjavik based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in January is about 48 mm, with a 19% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 16 mm, which is considered light rain. On average, there are about 6 rainy days during January, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Reykjavik wettest month is September, where a typical day has a 67% chance of precipitation and 98 mm of rainfall per day. March, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 26% chance of precipitation and 65 mm of rainfall per day.

Snow

Amount of snow in mm during January in Reykjavik based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in January is about 23 mm, with a 6% chance of snow on a typical day.

January is one of the snowiest months in Reykjavik.

Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:

How was the weather last January in Reykjavik?

This is the weather in Reykjavik in January 2023:
1 January
🌨️
+30°F
2 January
☁️
+37°F
3 January
☁️
+35°F
4 January
☀️
+28°F
5 January
☀️
+20°F
6 January
☀️
+31°F
7 January
☀️
+33°F
8 January
☁️
+37°F
9 January
☁️
+33°F
10 January
☀️
+39°F
11 January
☀️
+35°F
12 January
☀️
+33°F
13 January
☀️
+33°F
14 January
☀️
+25°F
15 January
☀️
+16°F
16 January
☀️
+28°F
17 January
☀️
+30°F
18 January
☀️
+17°F
19 January
☀️
+33°F
20 January
🌧️
+44°F
21 January
🌧️
+42°F
22 January
☁️
+35°F
23 January
☀️
+34°F
24 January
🌧️
+42°F
25 January
☀️
+38°F
26 January
🌧️
+46°F
27 January
🌧️
+38°F
28 January
🌧️
+44°F
29 January
☁️
+35°F
30 January
🌨️
+32°F
31 January
☁️
+36°F
In January 2023 Reykjavik had 16 sunny days, 7 cloudy days, and 6 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +34°F, with an absolute maximum of +46°F and a minimum of +16°F. The average humidity was 74%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 48%. The average wind speed was 5 m/s, with a maximum of 20 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Reykjavik climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Reykjavik in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+42°F) and the highest in 2003 (+48°F). The driest year was 2019 with only 289 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2003 with 1379 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Reykjavik in January:

Is January a good time to visit Reykjavik?

It’s always a good time to visit Reykjavik, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Reykjavik in January?

Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.

Can you swim in Reykjavik in January?

Swimming in Reykjavik in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.

Is Reykjavik rainy in January?

Reykjavik is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Reykjavik in January?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Reykjavik in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Monthly weather in Reykjavik

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Reykjavik, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.