SeasonMapAkureyri weather in January
Iceland
January in Akureyri: freezing, rainy, with clean air — not the time — 18 rainy days.
#11 of 12 months in Akureyri · #1313 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 31/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Akureyri in January
Other months in Akureyri
Akureyri's forum calls July genuinely variable even by Icelandic standards — anywhere from 10 to 20°C, with rain, sun and wind all realistic on any given day, and the north running noticeably cooler than the south of the country. Regulars' standard advice is long sleeves as a base layer regardless, with a proper waterproof on hand for when the weather turns.
Add your own note from Akureyri's card on the map.
Akureyri climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 2°C / 36°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -6°C / 21°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Rainfall | 109 mm / 4.3 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 18 days | |
| Humidity | 85% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -5°C / 22°F | |
| Sunshine | 0.7 h/day | |
| Daylight | 4.9 h | |
| Wind | 11 km/h / 7 mph | |
| Snowfall | 90.1 cm / 35.5 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 36 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Akureyri in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyChristmas break in Iceland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Akureyri's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherAkureyri's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Akureyri in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Aurora season
1 Sep – 10 Apr · usuallyDark enough from early September to April, and the fjord walls block the town's own light better than most places. Cloud, not the lights, is what decides the night.
- Festival
Christmas market and New Year fire
1 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New YearStalls on Radhustorg through Advent, then a bonfire on New Year's Eve before the private fireworks start. Rooms are cheap and half the shops keep short hours. Source ↗
- Season
Hlidarfjall ski season
15 Dec – 25 Apr · usuallyThe country's main ski hill sits ten minutes above the town, so you stay in Akureyri and take the bus up. Lifts usually run from around Christmas to late April, and the light in March is the reason to go then. Source ↗
- Nature
Polar night
About 4.9 hours of daylight a day in January; the light is the story, not the sights.
from the climate normals
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 90 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Akureyri — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Akureyri?
Akureyri in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Akureyri?
- January in Akureyri: freezing, rainy, with clean air — not the time — 18 rainy days. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Akureyri on SeasonMap's comfort score (31/100).
- What is the weather like in Akureyri in January?
- In January, Akureyri averages a daily high of 2°C and a low of -6.2°C, with about 109.1 mm of rain over roughly 18.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Akureyri in January?
- Akureyri has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 36 in January.
- Does it snow in Akureyri in January?
- Akureyri sees roughly 90.1 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Akureyri
Compare Akureyri in January
Warmer or cooler than Akureyri in January
Similar destinations in Northern Europe — January
Within 300 km: Reykjavík's Thorrablot around 19 Jan – 25 Feb, and Vík's Aurora season around 1 Sep – 10 Apr.