Iceland weather in May
Are you planning a trip to Iceland in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.
What is the weather like in Iceland in May?
May in Iceland generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.
The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 5°C in Suðureyri to 12°C in Hella. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C in Hella and 2°C in Suðureyri.
In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Raufarhöfn with an average of 55 mm to high rainfall in Solheimahjaleiga with 160 mm. Meanwhile, Reykjavík enjoys approximately 201 hours of sunshine, offering a mostly sunny climate that adds a pleasant and vibrant feel to the month.
For a closer look at May's conditions in Iceland, see the map below. For a more detailed look at Iceland's yearly weather, check out our Iceland climate page.
Where to go in Iceland in May
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
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Popular destinations in Iceland
What is the weather like in May for the 5 most popular destinations in Iceland?
Average weather in Reykjavík
In May Reykjavík generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Average weather in Akureyri
In May Akureyri generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -0°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Keflavík
In May Keflavík generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Höfn
In May Höfn generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Selfoss
In May Selfoss generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Iceland.
Is May the best time to visit Iceland?
In our opinion, May may not be the ideal time to visit Iceland due to the typically unpleasant weather in Reykjavík.
On average, the best time to visit Iceland is in June and July with generally tolerable weather in Reykjavík. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to be poor.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in Iceland.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
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 climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.