 
View the climate information for locations around the world by selecting a region from the map, or from the drop-down list below REGION CLIMATE REGIONS FOR EUROPE
|
Iceland is an island in the stormiest region of the North Atlantic between Norway and Greenland. Two features control its weather and climate: it lies in the track most frequented by depressions throughout the year; it also lies in the path of the current of warm oceanic water called the Gulf Stream. As a result the weather is disturbed and changeable throughout the year but sea-level temperatures are surprisingly mild during the winter. The Arctic Circle just touches the north coast of Iceland. Inland, Iceland is mountainous with several volcanic peaks
rising above 5,000 feet. These higher areas are covered with
snow all year round and there are extensive ice fields at higher
levels. Although very cold Arctic air occasionally affects Iceland
in spring and winter and drifting ice may block some north coast
inlets, the main port and capital (Reykjavik) is ice-free all
year. Summers are generally cool and cloudy with brief spells
of fine pleasant weather. Much of the winter precipitation is
snow, and autumn and winter are the wettest seasons. Average
daily maximum temperatures range from 2 °C in winter to
14 °C in summer. |
