Climate - Vestmann (Iceland)

The climate of the Vestmann Islands is subpolar oceanic, with cold winters and very cool summers.
The Vestmann Islands (Vestmannaeyjar 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.
The latitude 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 white nights, 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.



The winter, 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.
There are also very cold periods, characterized by snow and frost, which generally last no more than a week.
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.

The summer 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.

Best Time

The best time to visit the Vestmann Islands 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.

Vestmann - Climate data

In Vestmann, the average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of 1.9 °C (35.5 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Vestmann, precipitation amounts to 1615 millimeters (63.6 inches) per year: it is therefore abundant. It ranges from 80 mm (3.1 in) in the driest month (June) to 175 mm (6.9 in) in the wettest one (September). Here is the average precipitation.
At Vestmann, the sea temperature ranges from 7 °C (45 °F) in February, March, April to 12 °C (54 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Vestmann - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

---

In January, the weather in Vestmann is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.2 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of 0.3 °C (32.5 °F) and a maximum of 4.1 °C (39.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.2 °C (10 °F) in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it reached 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 165 mm (6.5 in), 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 42 kph (26 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7.5 °C (45 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In February, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Vestmann is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.9 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -0.1 °C (31.9 °F) and a maximum of 3.9 °C (39.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21 °F). However, it dropped to -12.2 °C (10 °F) in February 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it reached 9 °C (48.2 °F) in February 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm (5.7 in), 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 44 kph (27 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (45 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In March, the weather in Vestmann is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.3 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of 0.3 °C (32.6 °F) and a maximum of 4.2 °C (39.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it reached 9 °C (48.2 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), 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 41 kph (26 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (44.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In April, the weather in Vestmann is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.0 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) and a maximum of 6 °C (42.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.7 °C (16.3 °F) in April 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it reached 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), 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 38 kph (23 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (45 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In May, the weather in Vestmann is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.5 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) and a maximum of 8.4 °C (47.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) in May 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 16.5 °C (61.7 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), 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 32 kph (20 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8 °C (46.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In June, the weather in Vestmann is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.1 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) and a maximum of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.4 °C (29.5 °F) in June 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) in June 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), 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 28 kph (18 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Vestmann is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.9 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 9.1 °C (48.3 °F) and a maximum of 12.7 °C (54.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in July 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 21.6 °C (70.9 °F) in July 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), 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 26 kph (16 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In August, the weather in Vestmann is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 9.1 °C (48.3 °F) and a maximum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 1.1 °C (34 °F) in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 20.3 °C (68.5 °F) in August 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), 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 28 kph (17 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12 °C (53.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In September, the weather in Vestmann is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.7 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) in September 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 17 °C (62.6 °F) in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 175 mm (6.9 in), 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 35 kph (22 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11 °C (52 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In October, the weather in Vestmann is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.1 °F) and a maximum of 7.2 °C (44.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in October 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it reached 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 160 mm (6.3 in), 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 36 kph (22 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In November, the weather in Vestmann is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.4 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of 1.6 °C (34.8 °F) and a maximum of 5.2 °C (41.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.3 °C (17.1 °F) in November 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it reached 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) in November 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 160 mm (6.3 in), 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 41 kph (25 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

---

In December, the weather in Vestmann is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.2 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) and a maximum of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.1 °C (12 °F) in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8.5 °C (47 °F). However, it reached 10 °C (50 °F) in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 170 mm (6.7 in), 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 41 kph (26 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.