Iceland

Iceland Weather in October

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

🔎
Reykjavík Akureyri Keflavík Vík í Mýrdal

Planning a getaway to Iceland this October and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Iceland in October

October in Iceland generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 3°C (37°F) in Eyjafjaroarsveit to 10°C (50°F) in Vestmannaeyjar. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 6°C (43°F) in Vestmannaeyjar and -3°C (27°F) in Eyjafjaroarsveit.

To explore the conditions in Iceland in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In October, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Raufarhöfn with an average of 99 mm (3.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon with 299 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during October. Reykjavík experiences about 92 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore Iceland by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Iceland in October

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 October for some of the most popular destinations in Iceland?

Temperature range in Iceland (October)

Precipitation variation in Iceland (October)

Reykjavík

In October Reykjavík generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
2°C (36°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
121 hours
92 hours
42 hours
Monthly rainfall
145 mm (5.7 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Reykjavík →

Akureyri

In October Akureyri 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.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
4°C (39°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
50 hours
15 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
123 mm (4.8 in)
146 mm (5.7 in)
127 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
18 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Akureyri →

Keflavík

In October Keflavík generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
121 hours
92 hours
42 hours
Monthly rainfall
149 mm (5.9 in)
129 mm (5.1 in)
134 mm (5.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
20 days
18 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Keflavík →

Höfn

In October Höfn generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
114 hours
78 hours
47 hours
Monthly rainfall
227 mm (8.9 in)
237 mm (9.3 in)
212 mm (8.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Höfn →

Selfoss

In October Selfoss generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« September
October
November »
September
October
November
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
121 hours
92 hours
42 hours
Monthly rainfall
177 mm (7 in)
151 mm (5.9 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Selfoss →

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

Popular cities in October

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Reykjavík 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Akureyri 4°C (39°F) -2°C (28°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Keflavík 8°C (46°F) 4°C (39°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Vík í Mýrdal 7°C (45°F) 4°C (39°F) 265 mm (10 in)
Ísafjörður 5°C (41°F) 1°C (34°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Húsavík 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)

Iceland weather in October: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Iceland in October?

Expect poor weather across Iceland in October. The popular destination of Reykjavík averages 8°C (46°F) by day and 2°C (36°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Iceland in October?

Average temperatures in Iceland during October range from a nighttime low near 2°C (36°F) to a daytime high around 8°C (46°F) in Reykjavík.

Does Iceland get a lot of rain in October?

Yes, October tends to be a wetter month in Iceland. Average rainfall in Reykjavík sits around 122 mm (4.8 in).

Is October a Good Time to Visit Iceland?

In our opinion, October may not be the ideal time to visit Iceland due to the typically poor weather in Reykjavík.

Generally speaking, June and July provide tolerable weather in Reykjavík. The weather in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

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.

Iceland Airwaves Festival

On its way to its 20th edition in 2019 Iceland Airwaves is a festival you need to visit once in your life. Everything from lagoons and bookstores to bars and concert halls is filled with music.
Where to stay in Iceland: Nordic idyll that feels like home

If you are travelling to Iceland for the first time, the Golden Circle will probably make it onto your bucket list. Geysir Hestar is located right in between two spectacular sights of the Golden Circle.
See the northern lights

The northern lights, polar light or Aarora Borealis is a true spectacle of nature! Green, sometimes purple, red and yellow streaks of light colors the dark skies.

Must visit in Iceland →