Iceland guides · Leave at home

Should you bring an umbrella to Iceland?

No. Iceland's rain usually comes with wind: Reykjavík averages 3.5 m/s (8 mph) to 5.5 m/s (12 mph) depending on the month, with gales on about 9 days a year, and Vestmannaeyjar averages 10.7 m/s (24 mph). Rain falls sideways and an umbrella flips at the first gust. Wear a hooded waterproof jacket, as Icelanders do.

From Icelandic Met Office measurements, 1991–2020Reviewed 19 October 2026

What Icelanders use instead

A waterproof, windproof jacket with a hood that cinches down, and a hat. In a downpour the rain trousers go on too.

Wind and rain arrive together

Iceland's rain comes with the Atlantic lows, and the lows bring the wind. Calm, rainy days do happen, mostly in summer and inland, but they're the exception you can't plan for.

Gusts are the real danger

Around mountains the wind gusts far above its average, strong enough to rip a car door from your hand or push a campervan off the road. Check the gusts on the forecast before driving, and hold the door with both hands.

Average wind and days with gales (over 17 m/s) a year

Icelandic Met Office, 1991–2020. Vestmannaeyjar is measured at Stórhöfði, on an exposed headland.

	Average wind	Gale days a year	Windiest month
Vestmannaeyjar	11 m/s	181	February
Jökulsárlón	7 m/s	74	February
Keflavík (Airport)	7 m/s	48	February
Selfoss	7 m/s	36	February
Vík	7 m/s	66	February
Höfn	5 m/s	32	March
Egilsstaðir	5 m/s	14	January
Reykjavík	5 m/s	9	February
Þingvellir	4 m/s	18	February
Mývatn	4 m/s	26	January
Ísafjörður	4 m/s	9	January
Akureyri	4 m/s	4	January

Questions visitors ask

Is Iceland windy all the time?

Often, but not everywhere. Reykjavík's wind averages 4.6 m/s (10 mph) over the year; the south coast is windier and Akureyri calmer, at 3.7 m/s (8 mph). Winter is the windiest season (Icelandic Met Office, 1991–2020).

What is the windiest place in Iceland?

Of the twelve places in our tables, Vestmannaeyjar: its Stórhöfði station averages 10.7 m/s (24 mph) and logs gale-force wind on about 181 days a year.

What should I use instead of an umbrella in Iceland?

A waterproof, windproof jacket with an adjustable hood, a warm hat, and waterproof over-trousers for heavy rain.

These are the usual conditions, not a forecast. Before you set off, check the latest forecast and warnings on Iceland Weather or vedur.is, the roads on umferdin.is and travel alerts on safetravel.is. In an emergency, call 112.