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Reykjavik in May: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

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

Weather in Reykjavik in May 2025

OK Weather
Chill
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Cold water
May could be a good time to visit Reykjavik, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +50°F, and there are typically 3 sunny days in May. However, expect about 19 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 83 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • May is usually the driest month of the year in Reykjavik

Average weather

☀️
+50°F
Avg. max. temperature
+18°F
Min.
+66°F
Max.
83 mm
Total precipitation
73%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
8 ⛅️
Cloudy
19 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Reykjavik has OK weather in May.

Average temperature in Reykjavik in May

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

The expected average maximum temperature in May is +48°F with a maximum of +54°F and a minimum of +30°F.

The average maximum temperature goes up 23% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +45°F to +50°F.

Is Reykjavik warm or cold in May?

Reykjavik is typically chill in May.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +43°F to +50°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +34°F to +39°F.

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

Take a look at how May is compared to other months in Reykjavik:

Water temperature in Reykjavik in May

Water in Reykjavik in May is Cold. It varies from +42°F to +48°F, with an average of +45°F. This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +50°F.

In May, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the 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 May?

We would not recommend swimming in Reykjavik in May, the water is very cold (+45°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 May

Reykjavik weather looks like this, on average, in May and the surrounding months.
AprilMayJune
Avg. temperature
+43°F+50°F+55°F
Min. temperature
+7°F+18°F+32°F
Max. temperature
+59°F+66°F+70°F
Rainfall
73 mm83 mm73 mm
Wind
4 m/s4 m/s3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+43°F+45°F+49°F
Humidity
75%73%76%
Air pressure
1009 HPa1012 HPa1011 HPa
Sunny days
332
Cloudy days
789
Rainy days
141919
Snowy days
610

May weather is still as ok as in April. It’s getting warmer as May arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +43°F to +50°F during the day. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 73 mm to 83 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 75% to 73%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during May, staying around 4 m/s. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 3 sunny days during the month.

June brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

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

The average wind speed is 6 m/s getting up to 13 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Reykjavik is gradually increasing during May, going from 2 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during May in Reykjavik based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in May is about 179 mm, with a 87% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 20 mm, which is considered light rain. May is a pretty wet month with over 27 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how May 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.

How was the weather last May in Reykjavik?

This is the weather in Reykjavik in May 2023:
1 May
☀️
+44°F
2 May
🌧️
+43°F
3 May
☁️
+47°F
4 May
🌧️
+47°F
5 May
🌧️
+49°F
6 May
☁️
+53°F
7 May
☁️
+54°F
8 May
🌧️
+53°F
9 May
🌧️
+54°F
10 May
☁️
+52°F
11 May
☁️
+49°F
12 May
🌧️
+49°F
13 May
🌧️
+46°F
14 May
🌧️
+46°F
15 May
☀️
+45°F
16 May
☁️
+47°F
17 May
☁️
+49°F
18 May
🌫️
+50°F
19 May
🌧️
+51°F
20 May
🌧️
+44°F
21 May
🌧️
+45°F
22 May
🌧️
+46°F
23 May
🌧️
+46°F
24 May
☁️
+46°F
25 May
🌧️
+47°F
26 May
🌧️
+49°F
27 May
☁️
+46°F
28 May
🌧️
+48°F
29 May
🌫️
+51°F
30 May
🌫️
+46°F
31 May
🌫️
+50°F
In May 2023 Reykjavik had 2 sunny days, 9 cloudy days, and 16 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +48°F, with an absolute maximum of +54°F and a minimum of +43°F. The average humidity was 85%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 51%. The average wind speed was 6 m/s, with a maximum of 18 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in May?

Climate Change Over the Years

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

The climate in Reykjavik in May 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 May:

Is May a good time to visit Reykjavik?

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

Can you sunbathe in Reykjavik in May?

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

Can you swim in Reykjavik in May?

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

Is Reykjavik rainy in May?

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

Is it sunny in Reykjavik in May?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Reykjavik in May, 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.