West Iceland Weather in December

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

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

What to Expect in West Iceland in December

West Iceland, Iceland is a region in Iceland. December in West Iceland generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with high precipitation. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Húsafell at 1°C (34°F) to cold in Hellissandur at 5°C (41°F). At night it cools down to 1°C (34°F) in Hellissandur and -6°C (21°F) in Húsafell. December is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Ólafsvík with an average of 120 mm (4.7 in) to high rainfall in Húsafell with 149 mm (5.9 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during December. Borgarnes experiences about 20 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore West Iceland by month

Best Places to Visit in West Iceland in December

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

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

Temperature range in West Iceland (December)

Precipitation variation in West Iceland (December)

Borgarnes

In December Borgarnes generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly sun hours
42 hours
20 hours
20 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
119 mm (4.7 in)
134 mm (5.3 in)
137 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
19 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Grundarfjordur

In December Grundarfjordur generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and high monthly 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)
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
34 hours
9 hours
24 hours
Monthly rainfall
115 mm (4.5 in)
126 mm (5 in)
126 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Stykkishólmur

In December Stykkishólmur generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°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
1°C (34°F)
-1°C (30°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
34 hours
9 hours
24 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
108 mm (4.3 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Akranes

In December Akranes 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)
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
123 mm (4.8 in)
135 mm (5.3 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
19 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Búðardalur

In December Búðardalur generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Monthly sun hours
34 hours
9 hours
24 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
121 mm (4.8 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Borgarnes 3°C (37°F) -3°C (27°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Grundarfjordur 4°C (39°F) 0°C (32°F) 126 mm (5 in)
Stykkishólmur 4°C (39°F) -1°C (30°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Akranes 4°C (39°F) -2°C (28°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Búðardalur 2°C (36°F) -4°C (25°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Fossatún 2°C (36°F) -4°C (25°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)

West Iceland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in West Iceland, Iceland in December?

West Iceland, Iceland typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Borgarnes average around 3°C (37°F), and temperatures drop to about -3°C (27°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in West Iceland, Iceland in December?

Average temperatures in West Iceland, Iceland during December range from a nighttime low near -3°C (27°F) to a daytime high around 3°C (37°F) in Borgarnes.

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

Borgarnes typically receives notable snow/rainfall in December, about 134 mm (5.3 in) on average across West Iceland, Iceland.

Is December a Good Time to Visit West Iceland, Iceland?

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

Generally speaking, June and July provide tolerable weather in Borgarnes. In contrast, January, February, March, April, May, 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 West 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.

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