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Iceland

Hafnarfjörður weather & best time to visit

City break

Hafnarfjörður at a glance

Best time
Jul
Warmest month
Jul · 15°
Warmest sea
Aug · 11.6°
Sunshine a year
1,370 h
Rain a year
1,268 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0
Elevation
39 m

Climate in Hafnarfjörður

Hafnarfjörður has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 15 °C, while January is the coolest at 4 °C. With around 1,370 hours of sunshine a year, Hafnarfjörður is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 6.7 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Hafnarfjörður

The best time to visit Hafnarfjörður is in July. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 11.6 °C. The wettest month is September with 134 mm of precipitation.

Hafnarfjörður through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Hafnarfjörður in spring

Mar – May

15

Poor

  • 5–10 °C by day
  • Sea 6 °C
  • 5.3 h of sun a day
  • 49 rainy days in all

Hafnarfjörður in summer

Jun – Aug

49

Fair

  • 13–15 °C by day
  • Sea 11 °C
  • 5.8 h of sun a day
  • 43 rainy days in all

Hafnarfjörður in autumn

Sep – Nov

11

Poor

  • 5–12 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 2.7 h of sun a day
  • 49 rainy days in all

Hafnarfjörður in winter

Dec – Feb

2

Poor

  • 4 °C by day
  • Sea 5 °C
  • 1.1 h of sun a day
  • 52 rainy days in all

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No month

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

No month

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

All year

Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days

Snow

Nov – Apr

Snow on 2 or more days

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Hafnarfjörður for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: July – August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

Weather in October

6

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: July

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 3°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 7°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 8°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 6°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 5°

08:1418:12

Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:45–09:24 · evening 17:03–18:42
Blue hour
Morning 07:26–07:45 · evening 18:42–19:01

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

October in Hafnarfjörður compared with home

Home:

Loading the climate at home …

Early or late October?

In October, daytime highs fall from about 10° at the start of the month to 6° at the end. The sea cools from 9° to 8°. The days get 3.2 h shorter.

Early or late October?
October1 Oct31 Oct
Daytime high10°6°
Night-time low5°2°
Sea9°8°
Daylight11.5 h8.2 h

What is the weather like in Hafnarfjörður in October?

In October, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.0 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 119 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

More details for October

Daylight
9 h 58 min08:14 – 18:12
UV index
1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
26 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
71 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
2 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
Time zone
UTC+0offset from UTC

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 30 %19 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.

What to pack in October

  • Warm jacket
  • Rain jacket or umbrella

Compare two months in Hafnarfjörður

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs

July has the better holiday weather in Hafnarfjörður: score 54 against 6. In July, days are 7 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in July. July has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in July.

October vs July, Hafnarfjörður
MonthOctoberJuly
Holiday weather score654better
Daytime high8°15°
Night-time low3°9°
Sea8.5°11.3°
Sunshine3.0 h5.9 hbetter
Rainy days1514better
Rainfall119 mm79 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Hafnarfjörður month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

0January4° · Sea 5° · 0.7 h

In January, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 5.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 0.7 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 18 days, totalling 120 mm; on about 8 of them it snows. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 30 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in January
3February4° · Sea 5° · 2.2 h

In February, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). The sea averages 5.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.2 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 17 days, totalling 119 mm; on about 9 of them it snows. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 31 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in February
4March5° · Sea 5° · 3.6 h

In March, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 4.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.6 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 113 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 28 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in March
12April7° · Sea 6° · 5.5 h

In April, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 5.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 98 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in April
29May10° · Sea 7° · 6.7 h

In May, Hafnarfjörður is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 7.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 88 mm. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in May
46June13° · Sea 10° · 6.3 h

In June, Hafnarfjörður is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 9.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 74 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in June
54July15° · Sea 11° · 5.9 h

In July, Hafnarfjörður is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 11.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður – and yet one of the best months here.

Hafnarfjörður in July
46August14° · Sea 12° · 5.3 h

In August, Hafnarfjörður is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 11.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 97 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in August
22September12° · Sea 10° · 3.9 h

In September, Hafnarfjörður is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 10.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.9 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 134 mm. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in September
6October8° · Sea 9° · 3.0 h

In October, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.0 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 119 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in October
5November5° · Sea 7° · 1.3 h

In November, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 6.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 109 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in November
2December4° · Sea 6° · 0.4 h

In December, Hafnarfjörður is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 5.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 0.4 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 17 days, totalling 118 mm; on about 8 of them it snows. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 29 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður in December

Climate in detail

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Hafnarfjörður

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Frost below 0°
  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°

ColdOctober: nights around 3°. The room should be heated.

The coolest nights are in February (−2°), the warmest in July (9°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from September to May, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 8°Night 3°Sea 9°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan04°−1°5.3°0.7 h18120
FebruaryFeb34°−2°5.0°2.2 h17119
MarchMar45°−1°4.9°3.6 h17113
AprilApr127°1°5.7°5.5 h1698
MayMay2910°4°7.4°6.7 h1688
JuneJun4613°8°9.7°6.3 h1474
JulyJul5415°9°11.3°5.9 h1479
AugustAug4614°9°11.6°5.3 h1597
SeptemberSep2212°7°10.2°3.9 h18134
OctoberOct68°3°8.5°3.0 h15119
NovemberNov55°0°6.9°1.3 h16109
DecemberDec24°−1°5.8°0.4 h17118

Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

64.07° N, 21.94° W · 39 m · Atlantic/Reykjavik

Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Hafnarfjörður

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October8.5°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 7.8 – 9.4 °C

Swimming season: Always below 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 8.5°8 in 10 years 7.8° – 9.4°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Hafnarfjörður ranges from 4.9 °C in March to 11.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to March the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 10.8 and 12.4 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan5.3°4.6°5.9°cold
FebruaryFeb5.0°4.1°5.7°cold
MarchMar4.9°4.3°5.6°cold
AprilApr5.7°5.0°6.2°cold
MayMay7.4°6.9°8.1°cold
JuneJun9.7°8.7°10.7°cold
JulyJul11.3°10.7°12.2°cold
AugustAug11.6°10.8°12.4°cold
SeptemberSep10.2°9.6°11.0°cold
OctoberOct8.5°7.8°9.4°cold
NovemberNov6.9°6.3°7.5°cold
DecemberDec5.8°5.0°6.4°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Hafnarfjörður

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,370 hours
Sunniest month
May · 6.7 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 0.4 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.0 hDaylight 10.0 hShare of daylight 30 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.0 of 10.0 hours of daylight in Hafnarfjörður, 30 % of the daylight hours.

Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 7 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Rain

Rain in Hafnarfjörður: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,268 mm on 193 days
Wettest month
Sep · 134 mm
Driest month
Jun · 74 mm
OctoberRainy days 15Rainfall 119 mm

In October, Hafnarfjörður has about 15 rainy days with 119 mm of rain in total.

Sun protection

UV index in Hafnarfjörður

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 5).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
over 2 h
Fair skin
over 2 h
Light brown skin
over 2 h
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Hafnarfjörður

How breezy and how cloudy Hafnarfjörður is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
26 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Feb · 31 km/h
Calmest month
Jul · 20 km/h
OctoberWind 26 km/hBeaufort 4
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Hafnarfjörður typically peaks at 26 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting

From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it is that strong all year.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
75 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Oct · 71 %
Cloudiest month
Jul · 77 %
OctoberCloud cover 71 %Sunshine 3.0 h

In October, cloud covers on average 71 % of the sky over Hafnarfjörður: mostly cloudy, with about 3.0 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Snow

Snow in Hafnarfjörður

When Hafnarfjörður is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.

Snow days a year
41 days
Fresh snow a year
142 cm
Snowy months
Dec – Mar

Snow calendar

  • hardly any
  • possible
  • likely
  • very likely
OctoberDays with fresh snow 2Fresh snow 6 cmChance of snow 20 / 100

In October, Hafnarfjörður has about 2 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 6 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 20 out of 100: possible.

Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.

Planning a trip to Hafnarfjörður

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Hafnarfjörður in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Hafnarfjörður has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 49) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    10

    Poor

    • 6 °C by day
    • Sea 5 °C
    • 4.9 h of sun a day
    • 17 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    32

    Poor

    • 11 °C by day
    • Sea 8 °C
    • 6.6 h of sun a day
    • 15 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    49

    FairBest holidays

    • 15 °C by day
    • Sea 11 °C
    • 5.5 h of sun a day
    • 15 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    6

    Poor

    • 8 °C by day
    • Sea 9 °C
    • 3.0 h of sun a day
    • 15 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    1

    Poor

    • 4 °C by day
    • Sea 6 °C
    • 0.6 h of sun a day
    • 18 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
about 2 h 45 min
Distance
1,880 km
Time zone
UTC+0
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Compare & alternatives

Compare

Hafnarfjörður compared

Put Hafnarfjörður side by side with another destination.

Nearby:
Compare with home:

Hafnarfjörður vs Reykjavík

In October the holiday weather in Hafnarfjörður and Reykjavík is about equally good (score 6 vs 6). During the day it is about as warm in Reykjavík as in Hafnarfjörður. The sea is about equally warm.

Hafnarfjörður vs Reykjavík, in October
in OctoberHafnarfjörðurReykjavík
Holiday weather score66
Daytime high8°8°
Sea9°9°
Sunshine3 h3 h
Rainy days1515
Best timeJulJul

Through the year

OctoberHafnarfjörður 8°Reykjavík 8°
HafnarfjörðurReykjavík
Go to Reykjavík
Ranking

Iceland in October: the best places

In October, Hafnarfjörður ranks 2 of 14 destinations in this country.

  1. Stykkishólmur7°7°7
  2. 2HafnarfjörðurThis page8°9°6
  3. 3Reykjavík8°9°6
  4. 4Keflavík8°9°6
  5. 5Grindavík8°9°6
  6. 6Borgarnes8°8°5
  7. 7Hveragerði8°9°4
  8. 8Selfoss8°9°3
All destinations: Iceland

Near Hafnarfjörður

Other destinations close by.

Places with a climate like Hafnarfjörður

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Hafnarfjörður's – good alternatives.

  1. 80 % similar2HöfnIceland7°8°Best time: Jul
  2. 77 % similar0BodøNorway8°10°Best time: Jul
  3. 76 % similar0AkureyriIceland7°7°Best time: Jun – Jul
  4. 73 % similar2SvolværNorway8°10°Best time: Jul

Frequently asked questions about Hafnarfjörður

When is the best time to visit Hafnarfjörður?

The best time to visit Hafnarfjörður is in July. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Hafnarfjörður?

The sea temperature in Hafnarfjörður ranges from 4.9 °C in March to 11.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Hafnarfjörður in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 8.5 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Hafnarfjörður?

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 15 °C and nights around 9 °C. January is the coolest month at 4 °C.

When does it rain most in Hafnarfjörður?

The wettest month is September with 134 mm of precipitation. The driest month is June with 74 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Hafnarfjörður get?

Hafnarfjörður gets around 1,370 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 6.7 hours a day; in December there are 0.4 hours a day.

What time zone is Hafnarfjörður in?

Hafnarfjörður is on UTC all year.

How long is the flight from London to Hafnarfjörður?

A nonstop flight from London to Hafnarfjörður takes about 2 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 1,880 km.

Which school holidays are best for Hafnarfjörður?

Hafnarfjörður has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 49) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 10, May half-term 32, summer holidays 49, October half-term 6, Christmas holidays 1.