The village is located in the extreme north-east of Iceland, a short distance from the Arctic Circle.
Due to the location in the north and on a peninsula (called Melrakkaslétta), summer is colder than in cities like Akureyri and Reykjavik, which are in more sheltered locations.
of Raufarhöfn is 66°27'N, just 10 km (6 mi) south of the Arctic Circle. On the shorter days of the year, around December 20th, the day lasts 2 hours and a quarter. On the longest days, the sun does not set, in fact, due to refraction, it remains above the horizon even at midnight from June 8th to July 6th. The white nights, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur before and after this period, from April 21st to August 23rd.
, there can be relatively mild periods, in which the temperature reaches 7/8 °C (44.5/46.5 °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 drops below -15 °C (5 °F). The coldest record is -24.6 °C (-12.3 °F), recorded in March 1969.
is very cool, and sometimes even cold, especially in June. The rains are quite frequent. 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 25 °C (77 °F), recorded in July 1955, in May 1992 and in August 1995.
, 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.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-1 °C, with a minimum of
-3.7 °C and a maximum of
1.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12 °C. However, it dropped to
-18.3 °C in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7.5 °C. However, it reached
11 °C in January 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
28.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-1.3 °C, with a minimum of
-4.1 °C and a maximum of
1.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.6 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7.5 °C. However, it reached
9.6 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
27.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.9 °C, with a minimum of
-3.6 °C and a maximum of
1.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-19.8 °C in March 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
12.3 °C in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
26.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.1 °C, with a minimum of
-1.5 °C and a maximum of
3.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.4 °C in April 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11 °C. However, it reached
20.4 °C in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.9 °C, with a minimum of
1.2 °C and a maximum of
6.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-9 °C in May 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in May 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.1 °C, with a minimum of
4.4 °C and a maximum of
9.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-3 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
24.5 °C in June 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 23 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.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.1 °C, with a minimum of
6.7 °C and a maximum of
11.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.2 °C in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
23.2 °C in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 21 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August, the least cold month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.4 °C, with a minimum of
6.7 °C and a maximum of
12.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-1 °C in August 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
24.8 °C in August 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.8 °C, with a minimum of
4.2 °C and a maximum of
9.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.2 °C in September 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
21.3 °C in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.2 °C, with a minimum of
0.9 °C and a maximum of
5.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.8 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13 °C. However, it reached
16.8 °C in October 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.6 °C, with a minimum of
-2 °C and a maximum of
3.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-16.6 °C in November 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
14 °C in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
24.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.5 °C, with a minimum of
-3.2 °C and a maximum of
2.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-17 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
14.2 °C in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 2 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are very short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
26 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.