Iceland

Iceland Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Iceland in December.

Planning a trip to Iceland this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Iceland in December

December in Iceland generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Eyjafjaroarsveit at -1°C (30°F) to cold in Vestmannaeyjar at 7°C (45°F). At night it cools down to 3°C (37°F) in Vestmannaeyjar and -7°C (19°F) in Eyjafjaroarsveit. In many areas in Iceland, December brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.

For a closer look at conditions across Iceland, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Raufarhöfn with an average of 85 mm (3.3 in) to heavy snow/rainfall in Solheimahjaleiga with 336 mm (13 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Reykjavík receives around 20 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Iceland by month

Best Places to Visit in Iceland in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Iceland.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Iceland

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Iceland?

Temperature range in Iceland (December)

Precipitation variation in Iceland (December)

Reykjavík

In December Reykjavík generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly sun hours
42 hours
20 hours
20 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
124 mm (4.9 in)
138 mm (5.4 in)
138 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
19 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Akureyri

In December Akureyri generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C (19°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Monthly sun hours
15 hours
0 hours
7 hours
Monthly snowfall
127 mm (5 in)
129 mm (5.1 in)
123 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Keflavík

In December Keflavík generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
42 hours
20 hours
20 hours
Monthly rainfall
134 mm (5.3 in)
139 mm (5.5 in)
135 mm (5.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
20 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Höfn

In December Höfn generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and heavy monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-1°C (30°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
47 hours
17 hours
25 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
212 mm (8.3 in)
211 mm (8.3 in)
215 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Selfoss

In December Selfoss generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and heavy monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
42 hours
20 hours
20 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
148 mm (5.8 in)
171 mm (6.7 in)
166 mm (6.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
19 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Iceland.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Iceland in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Reykjavík 4°C (39°F) -2°C (28°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Akureyri 0°C (32°F) -7°C (19°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Keflavík 5°C (41°F) 1°C (34°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Vík í Mýrdal 5°C (41°F) 1°C (34°F) 293 mm (12 in)
Ísafjörður 2°C (36°F) -3°C (27°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Húsavík 2°C (36°F) -4°C (25°F) 113 mm (4.4 in)

Iceland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Iceland in December?

Expect poor weather across Iceland in December. The popular destination of Reykjavík averages 4°C (39°F) by day and -2°C (28°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Iceland in December?

In Reykjavík, the average daytime high in December is 4°C (39°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -2°C (28°F).

Does Iceland get a lot of snow/rain in December?

Iceland sees substantial snow/rainfall in December. Reykjavík typically averages about 138 mm (5.4 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Iceland?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Reykjavík, December may not be the ideal time to visit Iceland.

Generally speaking, June and July provide tolerable weather in Reykjavík. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Iceland.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Iceland? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Iceland.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.