Weather in Iceland in May
What May is like
May is one of the driest, brightest months, and cool rather than warm. The nights barely darken by the end of the month, the birds are back — puffins arrive on the cliffs — and the land slowly turns green. Highland roads stay closed until summer.
Pack an eye mask for the bright nights, and don't plan on F-roads yet.
- Warmest
- 20.6°
- 14 May 1960
- Coldest
- -7.7°
- 5 May 1982
Icelandic Met Office measurements since 1949
Typical in Reykjavík
Measured by the Icelandic Met Office, 1991–2020
- Typical high
- 10°
- Typical low
- 4°
- Feels like (avg)
- 4°
- Average wind
- 4 m/s
- Days with rain or snow
- 11
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Days with snow or sleet
- 3
- Days with gales (over 17 m/s)
- 0
- Sunshine
- 209 hours
- Daylight
- 16 h 53 min → 20 h 4 min
- Sunrise / Sunset (15.)
- 04:12 – 22:38
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 | 4°10° | 11 | 3 | 53 mm | 4 m/s | 0 |
| Keflavík (Airport) | 4°10° | 12 | 3 | 67 mm | 7 m/s | 2 |
| Vík Vatnsskarðshólar · 9 km | 4°10° | 13 | 2 | 102 mm | 6 m/s | 3 |
| Akureyri | 3°10° | 6 | 4 | 24 mm | 4 m/s | 0 |
| Höfn Hólar í Hornafirði · 5 km | 4°9° | 9 | 1 | 70 mm | 5 m/s | 2 |
| Egilsstaðir | 1°10° | 7 | 4 | 35 mm | 5 m/s | 0 |
| Selfoss Eyrarbakki · 11 km | 3°10° | 13 | 2 | 88 mm | 6 m/s | 1 |
| Ísafjörður 1998–2020 | 2°8° | 9 | 5 | 45 mm | 4 m/s | 0 |
| Þingvellir 1996–2020 | 1°11° | 13 | – | 78 mm | 4 m/s | 1 |
| Jökulsárlón Fagurhólsmýri · 30 km | 4°10° | 13 | 2 | 103 mm | 7 m/s | 4 |
| Mývatn Reykjahlíð · 6 km | 1°8° | 7 | 6 | 29 mm | 4 m/s | 1 |
| Vestmannaeyjar Stórhöfði · 5 km | 4°8° | 13 | 2 | 84 mm | 9 m/s | 11 |
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 or fleece
- Waterproof shell
- A hat
- Sturdy, waterproof shoes
- Sunglasses
Questions visitors ask
What is the weather like in Iceland in May?
In Reykjavík the average temperature is 6.7 °C, usually between 4 and 10 °C. Expect rain or snow on about 11 days (around 53 mm), with snow or sleet on about 3 of them. The average wind is 4.4 m/s; in the wind it feels closer to 4 °C. These are the Icelandic Met Office's measurements for 1991–2020.
How warm does it get in Iceland in May?
On a typical May day Reykjavík sees 4 to 10 °C. The warmest May temperature the Icelandic Met Office has measured there since 1949 is 20.6 °C (14 May 1960), the coldest -7.7 °C (5 May 1982).
How many hours of daylight does Iceland get in May?
Reykjavík has 16 h 53 min of daylight at the start of May and 20 h 4 min by the end.
Can you see the northern lights in Iceland in May?
No — the nights are too bright. Aurora season runs from late August to mid-April.
What should I pack for Iceland in May?
For a typical day: wool sweater or fleece, waterproof shell, a hat, sturdy, waterproof shoes, sunglasses. Skip the umbrella — the wind makes it useless.