Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Mývatn in January
This is the coldest month in Mývatn: highs average 29°F (-2°C) and lows 19°F (-7°C), with about 3.2 in (82 mm) of rain or snow.
Our comfort score puts it mid-table at 38/100, 8th of 12.
- Avg high
- 29°F (-2°C)
- Avg low
- 19°F (-7°C)
- Rain or snow
- 3.2 in (82 mm)
- Humidity
- 94%
- Cloud cover
- 81%
- Daylight
- ~4 h 07 min
- Comfort score
- 38/100 · Tough
What January feels like
Highs only reach about 29°F (-2°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 19°F (-7°C), so expect frost and ice.
Expect about 3.2 in (82 mm) of precipitation (rain or snow). Because the average temperature is below freezing, snow is likely on some days.
Skies are often grey, with average cloud cover around 81%.
Daylight is short, roughly 4 h 07 min mid-month, so start sightseeing early.
Plan around January
January sits mid-table; the best months are June – August.
- Comfort holds steady from December (37 → 38/100).
- 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 19°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Waterproof outer layerabout 3.2 in of rain or snow
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Mývatn in January
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Daddi's Pizza
Simple Reykjahlíð pizzeria popular with campers.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 29°F.
Vogafjós Farm Resort
Café in a working cowshed serving geyser bread and smoked trout.
Why now Somewhere to warm up between colder walks.
Skútustaðagígar
Pseudocraters along the southern lake shore with an easy path.
Dimmuborgir
Lava field of towers and arches with marked trails.
Hverfjall
Tephra crater with a steep path to the rim and lake views.
Nearby in January
- Jökulsárlón in January~108 mi · highs 36°F, 11.2 in rain · 4°C (7°F) warmer by day, wetter
- Vík in January~162 mi · highs 38°F, 9.8 in rain · 5°C (9°F) warmer by day, wetter
- Reykjavík in January~177 mi · highs 36°F, 6.7 in rain · 4°C (8°F) warmer by day, wetter
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~487 m to Mývatn's ~276 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Mývatn in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Mývatn?
It's middling, scoring 38/100. The best months are June – August, at up to 53. Expect highs of 29°F (-2°C) and 3.2 in (82 mm) of rain or snow. Our Iceland Ring Road route recommends Jun – Sep, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Mývatn in January?
Average highs are 29°F (-2°C) and average lows 19°F (-7°C), making it the coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Mývatn in January?
Some: about 3.2 in (82 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the 6th-wettest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 39.0 in (991 mm).
What should I pack for Mývatn in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 19°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days), waterproof outer layer (about 3.2 in of rain or snow) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
Planning Mývatn in January?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.