Climate:
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland enjoys a cool temperate ocean
climate: cool in summer and fairly mild in winter. The warm North
Atlantic Current ensures generally higher temperatures than in most
places of similar latitude in the world. The winters are mild and
windy while the summers are damp and cool. Summer is fresh with
medium temperatures 10°C-11°C but winter is relatively mild with
averages temperatures around 0°C.
The polar infuences, in the north of the country, give rigid winter,
nearly nonexistent summer and insufficient rains (400 milimeter
annual); in the southern regions, south and south-west winds
mitigate the temperatures and bring plentiful precipitations, until
to 1 200 milimeter annual. The warmth current of the Gulf, lap the
western and southern coasts raising the winter temperatures, but
carrying thick and persistent fogs. There are some variations in the
climate between different parts of the island. Very generally
speaking, the south coast is warmer, wetter and windier than the
north. Low lying inland areas in the north are the most arid.
Snowfall in winters is more common in the north than the south. The
Central Highlands are the coldest part of the country.
Iceland’s northern latitude means it experiences big differences
between winter and summer daylight hours. It’s true that from May to
August, you won’t see much darkness. Conversely, in mid-winter,
expect only about four to five hours a day of daylight. |
