Climate of Iceland

The Icelandic winter is relatively mild for its latitude, owing to maritime influence and proximity to the warm currents of the North Atlantic Gyre. The southerly lowlands of the island average around {{convert|0|C|F}} in winter, while the north averages around {{convert|-10|°C}}. The lowest temperatures in the northern part of the island range from around {{convert|-25|to|-30|C|F}}. The lowest temperature on record is {{convert|-39.7|°C}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.hi.is/~oi/climate_in_iceland.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427110325/http://www.hi.is/~oi/climate_in_iceland.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 27, 2006|title=The dynamic climate of Iceland|publisher=University of Iceland}}

The average July temperature in the southern part of the island is {{convert|10|–|13|C|F}}. Warm summer days can reach {{convert|20|–|25|C|F}}. The highest temperature recorded was {{convert|30.5|°C}} in the Eastern fjords in 1939. Annual average sunshine hours in Reykjavík are around 1300, which is similar to towns in Scotland and Ireland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/iceland/reykjavik|title=Sunrise and sunset times in Reykjavik|website=www.timeanddate.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-21}}

{{Main|Tornadoes in Iceland}}

Iceland, especially inland and during winter, is frequently subject to abrupt and dramatic changes in weather that can sharply reduce visibility, as well as rapidly increasing wind speed and precipitation, and shift temperature.

Generally, wind speeds tend to be higher in the highlands, but topographical features can aggravate winds and cause strong gusts in lowland areas. Wind speed in the lowlands reaches {{convert|18|m/s|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on 10–20 days per year, but on upwards of 50 days per year in places in the highlands. The strongest measured 10-minute sustained wind speed is {{convert|62.5|m/s|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and the strongest gust {{convert|74.2|m/s|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vedur.is/vedur/vedurfar/upplysingar/vedurmet/|title=Icelandic weather records|website=Icelandic Met Office|language=is|access-date=2017-03-20}} Heavy dust storms can be generated by strong glacial winds, and can be very strong. Up to {{convert|10|t|ST|0|abbr=off}} of material can be in motion per transect per hour. These storms are very frequent in the early summer in the arid highland areas north of the Vatnajökull glacier.{{Cite web|url=https://www.icelandtravel.is/about-iceland/seasons-and-climate/|title=Seasons and Climate {{!}} Iceland Travel {{!}} Weather in Iceland|website=Iceland Travel|language=en|access-date=2017-02-21}}

Thunderstorms are extremely rare for any specific location in Iceland, with fewer than five storms per year in the southern part of the island. They are most common in early or late summer. They can be caused by warm air masses coming up from Europe, or deep lows from the southwest in wintertime. Lightning can usually be observed in connection with ash plumes erupting from the island's volcanoes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Iceland|title=Iceland —|website=www.noonsite.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-21}} Vortices, sometimes on the scale of tornadoes, also occur with volcanic eruptions. Landspouts and waterspouts are occasionally observed. Classic mesocyclone derived tornadoes (i.e. forming from supercells) are very rare, but have been observed. Any of these do occasionally cause damage, although the sparse population further reduces the probability of detection and the hazard.{{cite journal |last = Antonescu |first = Bogdan |author2 = D. M. Schultz |author3 = F. Lomas |title = Tornadoes in Europe: Synthesis of the Observational Datasets |journal = Mon. Wea. Rev. |volume = 144 |issue = 7 |pages = 2445–2480 |date = 2016 |doi = 10.1175/MWR-D-15-0298.1 |doi-access = free }}{{cite news |title = Tornadoes leave South Iceland farm in ruins |newspaper = Iceland Monitor |location = Reykjavík |publisher = Morgunblaðið |date = 27 August 2018 |url = https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/nature_and_travel/2018/08/27/tornadoes_leave_south_iceland_farm_in_ruins/ |access-date = 2019-02-10 }}

There is a persistent area of low pressure near Iceland known as the Icelandic Low, found between Iceland and Greenland. This area affects the amount of air brought into the Arctic to the east, and the amount coming out of the Arctic to the west.{{Cite journal|last=Hanna|first=Edward|last2=Jónsson|first2=Trausti|last3=Box|first3=Jason E.|date=2004-08-01|title=An analysis of Icelandic climate since the nineteenth century|journal=International Journal of Climatology|language=en|volume=24|issue=10|pages=1193–1210|doi=10.1002/joc.1051|issn=1097-0088}} It is part of a greater pressure system known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).{{Cite web|url=http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/pna/nao.shtml|title=Climate Prediction Center - Teleconnections: North Atlantic Oscillation|website=www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov|access-date=2017-02-21}}

{{Reykjavík weatherbox}}

{{Akureyri weatherbox}}

File:Show Your Stripes change in temperature graphic for All of Iceland with bars with labels.png

Due to climate change, Iceland is experiencing faster glacial retreat, changing vegetation patterns and shifting marine ecosystems.{{Cite web |last=Ministry for the Environment in Iceland |date=March 2006 |title=Iceland’s Fourth National Communication on Climate Change Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Iceland’s Report on Demonstrable Progress Under the Kyoto Protocol |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227146843_Recent_Climate_Change_Projected_Impacts_and_Adaptation_Capacity_in_Iceland |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211023132930/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227146843_Recent_Climate_Change_Projected_Impacts_and_Adaptation_Capacity_in_Iceland |archive-date=2021-10-23 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=ResearchGate |language=en}} Although Iceland ranks relatively low internationally in absolute greenhouse gas emissions, producing approximately 49 tonnes in 2023, it ranks within the top 25 countries for emissions per person.{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Matthew W. |last2=Peters |first2=Glen P. |last3=Gasser |first3=Thomas |last4=Andrew |first4=Robbie M. |last5=Schwingshackl |first5=Clemens |last6=Gütschow |first6=Johannes |last7=Houghton |first7=Richard A. |last8=Friedlingstein |first8=Pierre |last9=Pongratz |first9=Julia |last10=Le Quéré |first10=Corinne |date=2023-03-29 |title=National contributions to climate change due to historical emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide since 1850 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02041-1 |journal=Scientific Data |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=155 |doi=10.1038/s41597-023-02041-1 |issn=2052-4463|hdl=11250/3119366 |hdl-access=free }} Iceland’s main energy sources are geothermal and hydropower, with fossil fuels mostly utilized in the transport sector.{{Cite web |last=Govenment of Iceland |title=Energy |url=https://www.government.is/topics/business-and-industry/energy/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.government.is |language=en-US}} Iceland has committed to reaching carbon neutrality before 2040.{{Cite web |last=Government of Iceland |title=Climate Change |url=https://www.government.is/topics/environment-climate-and-nature-protection/climate-change/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.government.is |language=en-US}}

750 square kilometers of Iceland’s glacier ice has melted since the year 2000.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-24 |title=In Iceland, Melting Glaciers Give Way to Plant Life |url=https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/02/24/iceland-melting-glaciers-succession/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=State of the Planet |language=en}} Iceland’s annual CO₂ emissions and per capita CO₂ emissions rose from 1950 to 2018,{{by how much|date=January 2023}} but both metrics have been on the decline since 2018. A majority of Iceland’s CO₂ emissions come from oil.{{Cite journal |last=Ritchie |first=Hannah |author1-link=Hannah Ritchie |last2=Roser |first2=Max |author2-link=Max Roser |last3=Rosado |first3=Pablo |date=2020-05-11 |title=CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions |url=https://ourworldindata.org/co2/country/iceland |journal=Our World in Data}}

Most Icelandic glaciers began retreating in the late 1800s, but current modeling studies suggest that glaciers would lose a quarter of their volume in the next hundred years with just a 1°C rise in global temperatures. The models also predict that glaciers could lose sixty percent of their volume if global temperatures rise by 2°C. At this rate, only small ice caps will remain after two hundred years.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Vatnajokull National |title=Response of glaciers to climate change |url=https://www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/en/areas/melting-glaciers/glaciers-and-climate-change/response-of-glaciers-to-climate-change |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Vatnajokull National Park |language=en}} Some models predict Iceland's glacial mass will shrink a third by 2100.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-17 |title=EarthSky {{!}} Blue Blob has slowed Iceland’s ice melt, for now |url=https://earthsky.org/earth/blue-blob-near-iceland-is-slowing-glacial-melting-for-now/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=earthsky.org |language=en-US}}

Iceland’s retreating glaciers have global and local consequences. Melting of Iceland’s glaciers could raise sea levels by a centimeter,{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Vatnajokull National |title=Consequences of retreating glaciers |url=https://www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/en/areas/melting-glaciers/glaciers-and-climate-change/consequences-of-retreating-glaciers |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Vatnajokull National Park |language=en}} which could lead to erosion and flooding worldwide.{{Cite web |title=Sea-Level Rise & Global Climate Change: A Review of Impacts to U.S. Coasts |url=https://www.c2es.org/document/sea-level-rise-global-climate-change-a-review-of-impacts-to-u-s-coasts/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Center for Climate and Energy Solutions}} Locally, glacial recession could cause crustal uplift, which could disrupt buildings. Some places in Iceland have already seen the crust rise at a rate of 40 millimeters per year.

Okjökull was a glacier in Iceland that melted in 2014. Okjökull was Iceland's first glacier to have melted due to climate change.{{Cite news |last=McKenna |first=Cara |date=August 18, 2021 |title=FUNERAL HELD FOR ICELAND'S OKJOKULL GLACIER; MOMENT IN TIME |work=The Globe and Mail}}

Geologists estimate that Okjökull covered about 6 square miles in the late 1800s,{{Cite journal |date=September 21, 2019 |title=The last of ice; Okjokull |url= |journal=The Economist |volume=432 |issue=9161}} but slowly shrank until it officially lost its glacier status in 2014. When it "died", the 800 year old glacier's name was changed from Okjökull to Ok. Okjökull was pronounced dead in part due to its decrease in area, but also due to its inability to flow;{{Cite web |date=2019-08-09 |title=Okjökull Remembered |url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145439/okjokull-remembered |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=earthobservatory.nasa.gov |language=en}} a body of ice must be able to move to be defined as a glacier.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-01 |title=Iceland to Commemorate the Demise of Okjökull Glacier |url=https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2019/08/01/iceland-commemorate-okjokull-glacier/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=State of the Planet |language=en}} “Jökull” means glacier in Icelandic,{{Cite journal |last=Akdemir |first=Mary |date=September 2019 |title=Ice, Abolished |url= |journal=Nation |volume=309 |issue=5 |pages=6}} so this suffix was removed accordingly.

In 2018, a documentary called Not Ok was released by Rice University anthropologists four years after its death.{{Cite journal |date=September 21, 2019 |title=The last of ice; Okjokull |url= |journal=The Economist |volume=432 |issue=9161}} In 2019, roughly one hundred people held a funeral for Okjökull. Iceland’s prime minister at the time, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, was among the attendees.

At the funeral, one high school student read a poem and a commemorative plaque, titled "A letter to the future,"{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Jeremie |title=Iceland commemorates first glacier lost to climate change |url=https://phys.org/news/2019-08-iceland-commemorates-glacier-lost-climate.html |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=phys.org |language=en}} was placed on a boulder. As of 2022, this plaque was the only one commemorating a glacier lost to climate change. The plaque warned future readers that all of Iceland's glaciers would soon "follow the same path" as Okjökull.

In an effort to combat the effects climate change has on Iceland’s glaciers, Iceland has worked to make its electricity completely sustainable. As of 2015, nearly all of its electricity comes from renewable energy. Thirteen percent of the country’s electricity comes from geothermal energy—which also heats ninety percent of Iceland’s homes—and the rest comes from hydropower.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-08 |title=🇮🇸 Iceland’s nature allows for 100% renewable energy |url=https://www.warpnews.org/energy/icelands-nature-allows-for-100-renewable-energy |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Warp News |language=en}}

• Climate of the Nordic countries
• Geography of Iceland

{{reflist|2}}

{{commons category|Weather and climate of Iceland}}

• [http://www.hi.is/~oi/climate_in_iceland.htm The dynamic climate of Iceland] – A brief description of the country's climate (with maps)
• [http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/04030.html Reykjavík, Iceland Forecast: Weather Underground] – Weather forecast for Reykjavík

{{Iceland topics|state=collapsed}}

{{Europe topic|Climate of}}

Iceland