SeasonMapVík (Vík) weather in January
Iceland
January in Vík: freezing, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 21 rainy days.
#11 of 12 months in Vík · #1370 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 17/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Vík in January
Other months in Vík
Vik's forum calls July Iceland's best weather month on average, but regulars are quick to add that "best" still means highly variable — sun and reasonable temperatures one day, wind and rain the next. Long bright evenings and good road conditions make it a solid month for a road trip regardless, as long as layers and rain gear come along.
Add your own note from Vík's card on the map.
Vík climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 3°C / 37°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -1°C / 30°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Sea temperature | 6°C / 43°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 280 mm / 11 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 21 days | |
| Humidity | 78% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Sunshine | 1.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 5.9 h | |
| Wind | 33 km/h / 20 mph | |
| Snowfall | 94.6 cm / 37.2 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 38 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Vík 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 Vík'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 weatherVík's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
January coincides with Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Vík in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Aurora season
1 Sep – 10 Apr · usuallyDark from September to April with sea and glacier on either side and almost no town light. What it does not have is reliable clear sky; the south coast catches the weather first.
- Hazard
Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara
15 Sep – 30 Apr · usuallyThe black beach kills people. Waves run far higher up the sand than the previous twenty did, and the biggest Atlantic swells arrive between autumn and spring. Watch the warning light and stay well back. Source ↗
- Season
Ice cave season
1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyIce seasonBook earlyMost of Iceland's natural ice caves are only safe in the cold half of the year; the one under Myrdalsjokull up the road runs longer but closes at short notice for weather and glacier movement. Source ↗
- Hazard
Wind and ice on Route 1
1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyClosuresThe ring road over Myrdalssandur east of the village closes for wind and ice several times a winter, sometimes with no warning and no detour. Check the road authority before setting off, not after. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk21 rainy days and about 280 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 95 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Vík — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Vík?
Vík in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Vík?
- January in Vík: freezing, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 21 rainy days. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Vík on SeasonMap's comfort score (17/100).
- What is the weather like in Vík in January?
- In January, Vík averages a daily high of 3°C and a low of -0.9°C, with about 279.8 mm of rain over roughly 20.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Vík in January?
- Vík has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 38 in January.
- Does it snow in Vík in January?
- Vík sees roughly 94.6 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Vík
Compare Vík in January
Warmer or cooler than Vík in January
Similar destinations in Northern Europe — January
Within 300 km: Reykjavík's Thorrablot around 19 Jan – 25 Feb, and Akureyri's Aurora season around 1 Sep – 10 Apr.