Weather in Iceland in April
What April is like
April is spring in name: Icelanders celebrate the First Day of Summer on the third Thursday, often in sleet. It's drier and brighter than winter, with days of fourteen to sixteen hours, but snow still falls, especially in the north. By mid-April the nights are too bright for the aurora.
Layers you can add and shed: a sunny lull and a snow shower can be ten minutes apart.
- Warmest
- 17.1°
- 30 April 2019
- Coldest
- -16.4°
- 1 April 1968
Icelandic Met Office measurements since 1949
Typical in Reykjavík
Measured by the Icelandic Met Office, 1991–2020
- Typical high
- 7°
- Typical low
- 1°
- Feels like (avg)
- 0°
- Average wind
- 5 m/s
- Days with rain or snow
- 12
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Days with snow or sleet
- 8
- Days with gales (over 17 m/s)
- 0
- Sunshine
- 165 hours
- Daylight
- 13 h 35 min → 16 h 47 min
- Sunrise / Sunset (15.)
- 05:55 – 21:02
Around the country
Averages measured by the Icelandic Met Office, 1991–2020 unless noted
| Place | Typical low – Typical high | Days with rain or snow | Snow days | Precipitation | Average wind | Gale days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 1°7° | 12 | 8 | 59 mm | 5 m/s | 0 |
| Keflavík (Airport) | 1°7° | 12 | 9 | 74 mm | 7 m/s | 3 |
| Vík Vatnsskarðshólar · 9 km | 2°7° | 15 | 8 | 117 mm | 7 m/s | 5 |
| Akureyri | 0°7° | 7 | 10 | 26 mm | 4 m/s | 0 |
| Höfn Hólar í Hornafirði · 5 km | 1°6° | 10 | 4 | 99 mm | 6 m/s | 3 |
| Egilsstaðir | -2°6° | 7 | 7 | 30 mm | 5 m/s | 1 |
| Selfoss Eyrarbakki · 11 km | 1°7° | 14 | 7 | 91 mm | 7 m/s | 2 |
| Ísafjörður 1998–2020 | -1°5° | 10 | 9 | 58 mm | 4 m/s | 0 |
| Þingvellir 1996–2020 | -2°7° | 13 | – | 89 mm | 4 m/s | 2 |
| Jökulsárlón Fagurhólsmýri · 30 km | 1°7° | 12 | 6 | 120 mm | 8 m/s | 6 |
| Mývatn Reykjahlíð · 6 km | -3°4° | 7 | 9 | 23 mm | 4 m/s | 2 |
| Vestmannaeyjar Stórhöfði · 5 km | 2°6° | 15 | 8 | 104 mm | 11 m/s | 16 |
Daylight through the year
Hours of daylight in Reykjavík; this month highlighted
What to pack
For a typical day out, judged on the average feels-like and wind
- Wool sweater
- Waterproof shell
- Warm hat
- Gloves
- Sturdy, waterproof shoes
- Sunglasses
Questions visitors ask
What is the weather like in Iceland in April?
In Reykjavík the average temperature is 3.7 °C, usually between 1 and 7 °C. Expect rain or snow on about 12 days (around 59 mm), with snow or sleet on about 8 of them. The average wind is 4.8 m/s; in the wind it feels closer to 0 °C. These are the Icelandic Met Office's measurements for 1991–2020.
How cold does it get in Iceland in April?
On a typical April day Reykjavík sees 1 to 7 °C. The warmest April temperature the Icelandic Met Office has measured there since 1949 is 17.1 °C (30 April 2019), the coldest -16.4 °C (1 April 1968).
How many hours of daylight does Iceland get in April?
Reykjavík has 13 h 35 min of daylight at the start of April and 16 h 47 min by the end.
Can you see the northern lights in Iceland in April?
Yes — the nights are dark enough. You need a clear sky, darkness away from town lights and some solar activity.
What should I pack for Iceland in April?
For a typical day: wool sweater, waterproof shell, warm hat, gloves, sturdy, waterproof shoes, sunglasses. Skip the umbrella — the wind makes it useless.