Weather in Iceland in March
What March is like
March sits on the edge of spring. Around the equinox the days and nights are equal and the light grows fast, but the weather is still winter more often than not, with snow and some of the year's strongest gales. Aurora activity tends to peak around the equinoxes.
Bring sunglasses as well as winter layers — low sun on snow is blinding, especially behind the wheel.
- Warmest
- 13.0°
- 31 March 1965
- Coldest
- -16.4°
- 9 March 1969
Icelandic Met Office measurements since 1949
Typical in Reykjavík
Measured by the Icelandic Met Office, 1991–2020
- Typical high
- 4°
- Typical low
- -1°
- Feels like (avg)
- -3°
- Average wind
- 5 m/s
- Days with rain or snow
- 14
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Days with snow or sleet
- 15
- Days with gales (over 17 m/s)
- 2
- Sunshine
- 110 hours
- Daylight
- 10 h 12 min → 13 h 28 min
- Sunrise / Sunset (15.)
- 07:45 – 19:29
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°4° | 14 | 15 | 81 mm | 5 m/s | 2 |
| Keflavík (Airport) | -1°4° | 16 | 16 | 96 mm | 8 m/s | 6 |
| Vík Vatnsskarðshólar · 9 km | 0°5° | 18 | 14 | 148 mm | 8 m/s | 8 |
| Akureyri | -3°4° | 10 | 15 | 47 mm | 4 m/s | 1 |
| Höfn Hólar í Hornafirði · 5 km | -1°4° | 13 | 8 | 135 mm | 7 m/s | 4 |
| Egilsstaðir | -4°4° | 8 | 9 | 42 mm | 5 m/s | 2 |
| Selfoss Eyrarbakki · 11 km | -2°4° | 18 | 13 | 136 mm | 8 m/s | 5 |
| Ísafjörður 1998–2020 | -3°3° | 16 | 16 | 106 mm | 5 m/s | 1 |
| Þingvellir 1996–2020 | -5°4° | 15 | – | 119 mm | 5 m/s | 2 |
| Jökulsárlón Fagurhólsmýri · 30 km | -1°5° | 14 | 9 | 155 mm | 8 m/s | 9 |
| Mývatn Reykjahlíð · 6 km | -6°1° | 8 | 12 | 33 mm | 5 m/s | 3 |
| Vestmannaeyjar Stórhöfði · 5 km | 0°4° | 18 | 14 | 141 mm | 12 m/s | 19 |
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
- Rain trousers
- No umbrella
Questions visitors ask
What is the weather like in Iceland in March?
In Reykjavík the average temperature is 1.2 °C, usually between -1 and 4 °C. Expect rain or snow on about 14 days (around 81 mm), with snow or sleet on about 15 of them. The average wind is 5.1 m/s and gales blow on about 2 days; in the wind it feels closer to -3 °C. These are the Icelandic Met Office's measurements for 1991–2020.
How cold does it get in Iceland in March?
On a typical March day Reykjavík sees -1 to 4 °C. The warmest March temperature the Icelandic Met Office has measured there since 1949 is 13 °C (31 March 1965), the coldest -16.4 °C (9 March 1969).
How many hours of daylight does Iceland get in March?
Reykjavík has 10 h 12 min of daylight at the start of March and 13 h 28 min by the end.
Can you see the northern lights in Iceland in March?
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 March?
For a typical day: wool sweater, waterproof shell, warm hat, gloves, rain trousers. Skip the umbrella — the wind makes it useless.