Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Jökulsárlón in January
The year's rain peaks now, with about 11.2 in (284 mm) falling in Jökulsárlón, alongside highs near 36°F (2°C) and lows of 31°F (-1°C).
With a comfort score of 19/100 (10th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 36°F (2°C)
- Avg low
- 31°F (-1°C)
- Rain
- 11.2 in (284 mm)
- Humidity
- 87%
- Cloud cover
- 79%
- Daylight
- ~4 h 55 min
- Comfort score
- 19/100 · Tough
What January feels like
Real cold sets in, with afternoon highs around 36°F (2°C).
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 31°F (-1°C), so expect frost and ice.
It's a very wet month, with around 11.2 in (284 mm) of rain, so keep plans flexible and have indoor backups ready.
Skies are often grey, with average cloud cover around 79%.
It's breezy, with average winds near 17 mph (7.4 m/s) at ground level.
Daylight is short, roughly 4 h 55 min mid-month, so start sightseeing early.
Plan around January
January is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are June – August.
- Inside the wettest three-month stretch, December – February.
- Comfort holds steady from December (19 → 19/100).
- Our Iceland Ring Road route recommends Jun – Sep, so January falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 31°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Rain jacket and waterproof shoes11.2 in of rain on average
- Windproof shellaverage wind 17 mph
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Jökulsárlón in January
Wet days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Þórbergssetur
Hali farm cultural center and restaurant serving local char and lamb.
Why now A sit-down stop to wait out showers in a month with 11.2 in of rain.
Frost Restaurant
Buffet restaurant at the Fjallsárlón visitor center with glacier views.
Why now Easy to slot in when January's rain moves in.
Vatnajökull ice cave tour
Guided winter trip into natural blue ice caves in the glacier.
Why now Our curated notes say it's best Nov–Mar.
Skaftafell
Vatnajökull National Park area with glacier walks and the Svartifoss trail.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Lagoon full of icebergs calved from Breiðamerkurjökull.
Nearby in January
- Vík in January~96 mi · highs 38°F, 9.8 in rain · 1°C (2°F) warmer by day, drier
- Mývatn in January~108 mi · highs 29°F, 3.2 in rain or snow · 4°C (7°F) cooler by day, drier
- Reykjavík in January~172 mi · highs 36°F, 6.7 in rain · similar daytime temperatures, drier
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Jökulsárlón in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Jökulsárlón?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 19/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are June – August. Expect highs of 36°F (2°C) and 11.2 in (284 mm) of rain. Our Iceland Ring Road route recommends Jun – Sep, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Jökulsárlón in January?
Average highs are 36°F (2°C) and average lows 31°F (-1°C), making it the 3rd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it rain a lot in Jökulsárlón in January?
Yes: about 11.2 in (284 mm) of rain falls across January on average, the wettest month of the year. The annual total is about 93.6 in (2377 mm).
What should I pack for Jökulsárlón in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 31°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible), rain jacket and waterproof shoes (11.2 in of rain on average), windproof shell (average wind 17 mph) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Jökulsárlón
Planning Jökulsárlón in January?
Share this January plan with your group, poll everyone on dates and keep the packing list in one place.