in Icelandic) are located off the southwest coast of Iceland. The main island is Heimaey.
Compared to the rest of Iceland, they have a mild microclimate, but also particularly windy and rainy. The temperature differences between night and day are often small. The sea is a bit milder than in the rest of Iceland as well.
of the Vestmann Islands is 63°26'N. On the shortest day of the year, December 21st, the sun rises around 11:05 am and sets around 3:35 pm. On the longest day, June 21, the sun rises at 3:05 am and sets at 11:40 pm. The
, in which it is not completely dark even at midnight, occur from April 30 to August 13.
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 9:15 am and sets at 5:55 pm, while in mid-March, it rises at 7:35 am and sets at 7:25 pm). However, the winter here is slightly milder even as compared to the south coast of Iceland.
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 sometimes drop to lower values.
The cold record, -17 °C (1.5 °F), was recorded even in early April 1968 (it must be said that March is still a fully winter month, and given the maritime climate, in spring temperatures rise late). However, in recent decades, the temperature has not dropped to such low values again.
is cool, with fairly frequent rains. Sometimes fog can form. There are slightly cold periods, with highs below 10 °C (50 °F), especially in June, but also milder periods.
On the warmest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 17/18 °C (63/64 °F).
Very rarely, it can reach or exceed 20 °C (68 °F). The highest record is 21.5 °C (70.5 °F), recorded in July 2008.
, 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
2.2 °C, with a minimum of
0.3 °C and a maximum of
4.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.2 °C in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
9.2 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
165 mm, distributed over 20 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
41.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.3 °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
1.9 °C, with a minimum of
-0.1 °C and a maximum of
3.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.2 °C in February 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
9 °C in February 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
145 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
43.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.3 °C, with a minimum of
0.3 °C and a maximum of
4.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.3 °C in March 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
9 °C in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
140 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
41 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4 °C, with a minimum of
2.1 °C and a maximum of
6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.7 °C in April 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
11.6 °C in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
37.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.5 °C, with a minimum of
4.6 °C and a maximum of
8.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.5 °C in May 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12 °C. However, it reached
16.5 °C in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
32 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.1 °C, with a minimum of
7.3 °C and a maximum of
10.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.4 °C in June 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15 °C. However, it reached
19.3 °C in June 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 20 hours and 25 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 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
28.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.7 °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
10.9 °C, with a minimum of
9.1 °C and a maximum of
12.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
4.5 °C in July 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16.5 °C. However, it reached
21.6 °C in July 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are very long.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
25.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.8 °C, with a minimum of
9.1 °C and a maximum of
12.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1.1 °C in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
20.3 °C in August 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
135 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
27.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12 °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
7 °C and a maximum of
10.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.2 °C in September 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13 °C. However, it reached
17 °C in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
175 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
35.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.6 °C, with a minimum of
4 °C and a maximum of
7.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6 °C in October 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10.5 °C. However, it reached
13.4 °C in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
160 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
35.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.4 °C, with a minimum of
1.6 °C and a maximum of
5.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.3 °C in November 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
10.5 °C in November 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
160 mm, distributed over 17 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
40.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.2 °C, with a minimum of
0.4 °C and a maximum of
4.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.1 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8.5 °C. However, it reached
10 °C in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
170 mm, distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 4 hours and 40 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
41.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.