Climate of Iceland

Köppen climate classification types of Iceland
Typical weather conditions in an Icelandic winter

The climate of Iceland is subarctic (Köppen climate classification: Cfc)[1] near the southern coastal area and tundra inland in the highlands. The island lies in the path of the North Atlantic Current, which makes its climate more temperate than would be expected for its latitude just south of the Arctic Circle. This effect is aided by the Irminger Current, which also helps to moderate the island’s temperature.[2] The weather in Iceland can be notoriously variable.[3]

The aurora borealis is often visible at night time during the winter. The midnight sun can be experienced in summer on the island of Grimsey off the north coast; the remainder of the country, since it lies just south of the polar circle, experiences a twilight period during which the sun sets briefly, but still has around 2 weeks of continuous daylight during the summer.[4]

Seasons

Winters

The Icelandic winter is relatively mild for its latitude. The southerly lowlands of the island average around 0 °C (32 °F) in winter, while the Highlands of Iceland tend to average around −10 °C (14 °F). The lowest temperatures in the northern part of the island range from around −25 to −30 °C (−13 to −22 °F). The lowest temperature on record is −39.7 °C (−39.5 °F).[5]

Summers

The average July temperature in the southern part of the island is 10–13 °C (50–55 °F). Warm summer days can reach 20–25 °C (68–77 °F).[5] The highest temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) at the Eastern fjords in 1939. Annual average sunshine hours in Reykjavík are around 1300, which is similar to towns in Scotland and Ireland.[6]

Climate data for Reykjavík, Iceland (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 1.9
(35.4)		 2.8
(37)		 3.2
(37.8)		 5.7
(42.3)		 9.4
(48.9)		 11.7
(53.1)		 13.3
(55.9)		 13.0
(55.4)		 10.1
(50.2)		 6.8
(44.2)		 3.4
(38.1)		 2.2
(36)		 7.0
(44.6)
Average low °C (°F) −3.0
(26.6)		 −2.1
(28.2)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 0.4
(32.7)		 3.6
(38.5)		 6.7
(44.1)		 8.3
(46.9)		 7.9
(46.2)		 5.0
(41)		 2.2
(36)		 −1.3
(29.7)		 −2.8
(27)		 1.9
(35.4)
Source #1: Icelandic Meteorological Office[7]
Source #2: All Icelandic weather station climatic monthly means[8]
Climate data for Akureyri, Iceland (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 0.9
(33.6)		 1.7
(35.1)		 2.1
(35.8)		 5.4
(41.7)		 9.5
(49.1)		 13.2
(55.8)		 14.5
(58.1)		 13.9
(57)		 9.9
(49.8)		 5.9
(42.6)		 2.6
(36.7)		 1.3
(34.3)		 6.7
(44.1)
Average low °C (°F) −5.5
(22.1)		 −4.7
(23.5)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 2.3
(36.1)		 6.0
(42.8)		 7.5
(45.5)		 7.1
(44.8)		 3.5
(38.3)		 0.4
(32.7)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 0.2
(32.4)
Source #1: Icelandic Meteorological Office[7]
Source #2: All Icelandic weather station climatic monthly means[8]

Winds and storms

The prevailing wind direction is easterly. Westerlies are very infrequent.[9] Generally speaking, wind speeds tend to be higher in the highlands, but topographical features can aggravate winds and cause strong gusts in lowland areas. Wind speed in the lowlands reaches 18 m/s (40 mph) on 10-20 days per year but upwards of 50 days per year at places in the highlands.[5] The strongest measured 10 minute sustained wind speed is 62.5 m/s (140 mph) and strongest gust 74.2 m/s (166 mph).[10] Heavy dust storms can be generated by strong glacial winds, and can be very strong. Up to 10 t (9.8 long tons; 11.0 short tons) of material can be in motion per transect per hour. These storms are very frequent in the early summer in the arid highland areas north of the Vatnajökull glacier.[11]

Thunderstorms are extremely rare in Iceland, with fewer than five storms per year in the southern part of the island. They are most common in early or late summertime. They can be caused by warm air masses coming up from the continent, or deep lows from the southwest in wintertime. Lightning can usually be observed in connection with ash plumes erupting from the island’s volcanoes.[12]

Atmospheric pressure

There is a persistent area of low pressure near Iceland known as the Icelandic Low, found between Iceland and Greenland. This area affects the amount of air brought into the Arctic to the east, and the amount coming out of the Arctic to the west.[13] It is part of a greater pressure system known as the North Atlantic Oscillation.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Koppen climate classification | climatology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  2. ↑ "Climate in Iceland". notendur.hi.is. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  3. ↑ weatheronline.co.uk. "Climate of the World: Iceland | weatheronline.co.uk". www.weatheronline.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  4. ↑ "Northern Lights in Iceland | When & Where to See the Aurora". Guide to Iceland. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  5. 1 2 3 "The dynamic climate of Iceland", University of Iceland
  6. ↑ "Sunrise and sunset times in Reykjavik". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  7. 1 2 Icelandic Climatic Data (English introduction), Veðurstofa Íslands (Icelandic Meteorological Office)
  8. 1 2 celandic weather stations from above site
  9. ↑ "Iceland Climate | IcelandInsider.com". www.icelandinsider.com. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  10. ↑ "Icelandic weather records". Icelandic Met Office (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2017-03-20.
  11. ↑ "Seasons and Climate | Iceland Travel | Weather in Iceland". Iceland Travel. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  12. ↑ "Iceland —". www.noonsite.com. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  13. ↑ Hanna, Edward; Jónsson, Trausti; Box, Jason E. (2004-08-01). "An analysis of Icelandic climate since the nineteenth century". International Journal of Climatology. 24 (10): 1193–1210. doi:10.1002/joc.1051. ISSN 1097-0088.
  14. ↑ "Climate Prediction Center - Teleconnections: North Atlantic Oscillation". www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
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