Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland and the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state, sits on the southwestern coast of the island on Faxaflói bay, at approximately 64.14°N, 21.90°W. Despite its far-northern latitude, the warm North Atlantic current gives it a subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc) — cool, windy, cloudy and remarkably mild for the latitude — with famously changeable weather.

Summer, from June to August, is cool and short, with July the warmest month — average highs of only around 13–14°C — and days that rarely exceed 20°C. What summer lacks in warmth it makes up in light: around the solstice the sun barely sets, and the long, luminous nights are a defining feature of the Icelandic summer. Showers and wind are frequent, and settled sunny spells are treasured.

Winter, from December to February, is remarkably mild for the latitude — far milder than similarly northern parts of Canada or Siberia — with January averaging around 0°C, highs near 2–3°C and lows near -3°C. Snow falls and thaws repeatedly rather than lying deep, gales are common, and daylight shrinks to only four or five hours around the solstice, when the aurora may appear.

Reykjavík receives around 800–900 mm of precipitation a year, falling on many days — well over 200 — spread through every month with an autumn and winter maximum; it is one of the cloudiest capitals in the world, with rain, sleet and snow often alternating within a single day. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Reykjavík's weather is famously changeable — Icelanders say that if you don't like it, wait five minutes — as Atlantic depressions sweep past in quick succession, bringing wind, rain, sleet and sudden sun. The warm North Atlantic current is what keeps this subarctic capital ice-free and surprisingly mild, while the swing from near-endless summer light to dark winter days shapes the whole year.

To follow any single measurement in Reykjavik more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.