Foreign visitors are often surprised to discover that despite its name Iceland isn't particularly cold in the winter. This is especially true of the capital, Reykjavík, as climate in the South-Western corner of Iceland tend to be relatively mild in winter.
Today is a good example. The local newspaper Morgunblaðið notes that at ten today the temperature n Reykjavík was higher than in most European capital cities, including Oslo, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. While the in Reykjavík stood at 5°C (41°F) the temperature in Berlin, Helsinki and Paris was just 1°C (34°F), 0°C (32°F) in London and -3°C (27°F) in Oslo.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office is forecasting warm weather in Iceland for the next few days. The temperature is expected to reach double digits (10°C / 50°F) later this week.
Iceland of course enjoys a coastal climate and benefits from the North Atlantic Drift and the Gulf Stream, which bring warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northern Atlantic. Without the Gulf Stream the climate in Iceland would be similar to Greenland.
Foreign visitors are often surprised to discover that despite its name Iceland isn't particularly cold in the winter. This is especially true of the capital, Reykjavík, as climate in the South-Western corner of Iceland tend to be relatively mild in winter.
Today is a good example. The local newspaper Morgunblaðið notes that at ten today the temperature n Reykjavík was higher than in most European capital cities, including Oslo, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. While the in Reykjavík stood at 5°C (41°F) the temperature in Berlin, Helsinki and Paris was just 1°C (34°F), 0°C (32°F) in London and -3°C (27°F) in Oslo.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office is forecasting warm weather in Iceland for the next few days. The temperature is expected to reach double digits (10°C / 50°F) later this week.
Iceland of course enjoys a coastal climate and benefits from the North Atlantic Drift and the Gulf Stream, which bring warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northern Atlantic. Without the Gulf Stream the climate in Iceland would be similar to Greenland.
