Weather and climate in Akureyri (Iceland)

The climate of Akureyri is subpolar oceanic, with cold winters and very cool summers.
Akureyry is Iceland's second city, and is located on the northern coast, but within a fjord. After Grimsey Island, we are in the driest area of Iceland.
Akureyri's latitude is 65°41'N. On the shortest days of the year, around December 15-20, the day lasts about 3 hours. On the longest days of the year, around June 20, the sun sets for about half an hour, even though the sunset lights remain. In any case, the white nights, in which it does not become completely dark, occur from April 23rd and until August 20th.
As is typical of Iceland, the weather is often unstable and windy.
In winter, there can be relatively mild periods, in which the temperature reaches 7/8 °C (44.5/46.5 °F), but sometimes even 10/11 °C (50/52 °F). On the other hand, winds from the north pole or from Greenland can bring freezing periods of three or four days, in which the minimum temperature reaches about -15 °C (5 °F). The coldest record is -23 °C (-9.5 °F), recorded in March 1969. From 2001 to 2020, the lowest value was -18.5 °C (-1.3 °F), recorded in January 2002.
It usually snows from October to April or early May, but the elevations around the city remain snow-capped even in summer.
The summer is very cool, and sometimes even cold, especially in June. The rains are quite frequent, although not abundant. However, there can be very mild periods of two or three days, in which the temperature reaches or exceeds 20 °C (68 °F). The highest record is 29.4 °C (85 °F), recorded in June 1974, but it was a very rare case, actually, perhaps the data is incorrect, the fact is that from 2001 to 2020, the highest temperature has been 25 °C (77 °F), recorded in July 2008.

Best Time

The best time to visit Akureyri is the summer, from June to August, since it is the mildest season. However, there are often cloudy skies, rain and a bit of cold. Therefore, it is advisable to bring a jacket and a sweater even in the height of summer.

Akureyri - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of -0.5 °C (31.1 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 555 millimeters (21.9 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 20 mm (0.8 in) in the driest month (June) to 75 mm (3 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
The sea temperature ranges from 3 °C (37 °F) in March to 8.5 °C (47 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
There are on average around 1045 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Akureyri - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -3.4 °C (25.9 °F) and a maximum of 2.6 °C (36.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12.5 °C (9.5 °F). However, it dropped to -18.5 °C (-1.3 °F) in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it reached 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in January 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 4% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -3.4 °C (25.8 °F) and a maximum of 2.6 °C (36.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12.5 °C (9.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17 °C (1.4 °F) in February 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it reached 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 25 minutes.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 14% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 3.5 °C (38 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.5 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) and a maximum of 3.5 °C (38.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (10.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20.5 °C (-4.9 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it reached 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 20% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 3 °C (38 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.0 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -0.2 °C (31.6 °F) and a maximum of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -13.1 °C (8.4 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 21.5 °C (70.7 °F) in April 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 3.5 °C (38 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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May is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6.8 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 3.4 °C (38.1 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -6.4 °C (20.5 °F) in May 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 4.5 °C (40 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.2 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44 °F) and a maximum of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -2.1 °C (28.2 °F) in June 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) in June 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 22 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.9 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 8.7 °C (47.6 °F) and a maximum of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) in July 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in July 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8 °C (46 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.4 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) and a maximum of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.8 °C (30.6 °F) in August 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) in August 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.7 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) and a maximum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.1 °C (22.8 °F) in September 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (45 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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October is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.8 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.1 °F) and a maximum of 6.5 °C (43.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in October 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) in October 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 16% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 5.5 °C (42 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.8 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -2 °C (28.5 °F) and a maximum of 3.6 °C (38.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.6 °C (2.1 °F) in November 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it reached 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in November 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 8% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 4.5 °C (40.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.5 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -3.5 °C (25.6 °F) and a maximum of 2.5 °C (36.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13.5 °C (8 °F). However, it dropped to -20.6 °C (-5.1 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (51.5 °F). However, it reached 14.8 °C (58.6 °F) in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 3 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 0% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 4 °C (39.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.