The city is located in the southwest of Iceland, on the coast, 30 km (18 mi) south-west of Reykiavik, in the peninsula called Suðurnes, and is formed by the union of the cities of Keflavik, Njarðvík and Hafnir.
The climate is very similar to that of Reykjavik, although it is slightly milder and rainier given the more exposed position to the sea.
of Reykjanesbær is 64°00'N. On the shortest day of the year, December 21st, the sun rises around 11:20 am and sets around 3:35 pm. On the longest day, June 21, the sun rises at 3 am and sets two minutes after midnight (this happens because of the time zone adopted by Iceland). The
, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur from April 28 to August 14.
As is typical of Iceland, the weather is often unstable and windy.
Snowfalls typically occur from October to April, although they rarely prevail over rain for long periods.
, from December to March, is cold, cloudy and windy, with very short days in the first part, which then gradually become longer (in mid-February, the sun already rises at 9:25 am and sets at 6 pm, while in mid-March, it rises at 7:45 am and sets at 7:30 pm).
During some periods, the temperature fluctuates around freezing, and rainfall alternate with snowfall.
There are also quite mild periods, in which the temperature reaches 7/8 °C (45/46 °F), but it often rains and a strong wind blows.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to -8/-9 °C (16/18 °F), however, it can occasionally drop to lower values. At Keflavik airport, the coldest record is -17 °C (1.5 °F), set in February 1969. Over the decades, the cold spikes have become less and less low.
is cool, with fairly frequent rains. There are very cool periods, with highs of 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), especially in June, but also milder periods.
On the warmest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 18/19 °C (64/66 °F). The highest record is 25 °C (77 °F) and was set in August 2004.
, 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 cold month. The average temperature is of
0.9 °C, with a minimum of
-1.8 °C and a maximum of
3.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-13 °C in January 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8.5 °C. However, it reached
10.4 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 5 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
27 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.7 °C, with a minimum of
-2.2 °C and a maximum of
3.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.2 °C in February 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
10.6 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
27.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.5 °C, with a minimum of
-1.4 °C and a maximum of
4.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-13 °C in March 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8.5 °C. However, it reached
12.3 °C in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
26.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.8 °C, with a minimum of
0.8 °C and a maximum of
6.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8 °C in April 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11 °C. However, it reached
15 °C in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
24.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.7 °C, with a minimum of
3.7 °C and a maximum of
9.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.8 °C in May 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
17.8 °C in May 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.8 °C, with a minimum of
6.9 °C and a maximum of
12.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.1 °C in June 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16.5 °C. However, it reached
19.9 °C in June 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 20 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 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.5 °C, with a minimum of
8.7 °C and a maximum of
14.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.9 °C in July 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
23 °C in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.1 °C, with a minimum of
8.4 °C and a maximum of
13.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.8 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in August 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.6 °C, with a minimum of
6 °C and a maximum of
11.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.1 °C in September 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
17.8 °C in September 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.1 °C, with a minimum of
2.6 °C and a maximum of
7.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.2 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12 °C. However, it reached
14.5 °C in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
115 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.6 °C, with a minimum of
-0.1 °C and a maximum of
5.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-12 °C in November 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10 °C. However, it reached
13.9 °C in November 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
25.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.1 °C, with a minimum of
-1.6 °C and a maximum of
3.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-14 °C in December 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
12.7 °C in December 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are 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
26.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.