Iceland Weather in January
Give January a compact route with time to change it. A Reykjavík base with individual day trips is easier to rearrange than a chain of distant overnight bookings. Choose the trip for winter days as well as possible aurora evenings.
January compared with the adjacent months
| Month | Average daily maximum | Average daily minimum | Monthly precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 3.3°C | -1.6°C | 94.9 mm |
| January | 3.2°C | -1.7°C | 87.1 mm |
| February | 3.3°C | -1.9°C | 90.6 mm |
Source: WMO normals archived by NOAA (CSV), checked September 10, 2026. Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows, not extremes. Precipitation is a monthly total, not the number of rainy days. This Reykjavík station does not represent every region or elevation.
Short days and winter road plans
Use the daylight for the part of the outing you most want to see. Put travel, a meal and the return journey into the same plan before adding a second waterfall. If conditions reduce the day, shorten the route rather than compressing each stop.
An ice-cave booking needs a named meeting point, check-in time, equipment list and cancellation terms. Confirm the actual cave and route with the operator; a January date does not establish that a particular cave is usable.
What to keep within reach
Warm base and insulating layers, a windproof waterproof outer layer, gloves, hat and footwear with grip belong in the day bag, not just the suitcase. A headlamp helps with dark approaches; traction aids for a footpath are not glacier equipment.
Check the conditions for your day
- IMO weather forecasts: choose the region and forecast time.
- Road conditions and SafeTravel alerts: check the actual route and destination before departure.
- IMO aurora page: darkness and cloud cover matter alongside activity. Its sun-time panel is for Reykjavík.
For the wider comparison, see Iceland’s climate, December and February.
Planning help
January weather questions
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
How cold is Iceland in January?
Reykjavík’s 1991–2020 average daily maximum is 3.2°C and average daily minimum -1.7°C. These station normals describe historical averages, not the full range of possible temperatures or a forecast for all Iceland.
Is this a forecast for January 2026?
No. The table uses 1991–2020 climate normals. Check the Icelandic Meteorological Office forecast for the actual place and dates of your trip.
For monthly temperature and rainfall averages, explore the climate data in our Iceland statistics.