Late spring · Weather & things to do
Mývatn in May
Mývatn warms up: highs climb to 40°F (4°C), from 35°F in April, with lows of 31°F (0°C) and about 2.8 in (71 mm) of rain.
Our comfort score puts it mid-table at 39/100, 7th of 12.
- Avg high
- 40°F (4°C)
- Avg low
- 31°F (0°C)
- Rain
- 2.8 in (71 mm)
- Humidity
- 89%
- Cloud cover
- 82%
- Daylight
- ~18 h 29 min
- Comfort score
- 39/100 · Tough
What May feels like
Real cold sets in, with afternoon highs around 40°F (4°C).
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 31°F (0°C), so expect frost and ice.
Some rain is likely, about 2.8 in (71 mm) in the month, so pack for a shower or two.
Skies are often grey, with average cloud cover around 82%.
With about 18 h 29 min of daylight, evenings stay light late.
Plan around May
May sits mid-table; the best months are June – August.
- Last month with freezing nights on average; by June, lows rise to 38°F.
- Comfort holds steady from April (40 → 39/100).
- Our Iceland Ring Road route recommends Jun – Sep, so May falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for May
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 31°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Packable rain jacket or umbrellaabout 2.8 in of rain
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Mývatn in May
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 40°F.
Vogafjós Farm Resort
Café in a working cowshed serving geyser bread and smoked trout.
Why now Somewhere to warm up between colder walks.
Mývatn Nature Baths
Milky-blue geothermal lagoon with views over the lava fields.
Skútustaðagígar
Pseudocraters along the southern lake shore with an easy path.
Dimmuborgir
Lava field of towers and arches with marked trails.
Nearby in May
- Jökulsárlón in May~108 mi · highs 42°F, 4.3 in rain · 1°C (2°F) warmer by day, wetter
- Vík in May~162 mi · highs 46°F, 4.9 in rain · 4°C (6°F) warmer by day, wetter
- Reykjavík in May~177 mi · highs 48°F, 3.7 in rain · 5°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 May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Mývatn?
It's middling, scoring 39/100. The best months are June – August, at up to 53. Expect highs of 40°F (4°C) and 2.8 in (71 mm) of rain. Our Iceland Ring Road route recommends Jun – Sep, so May is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Mývatn in May?
Average highs are 40°F (4°C) and average lows 31°F (0°C), making it the 5th-warmest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it rain a lot in Mývatn in May?
Some: about 2.8 in (71 mm) of rain falls across May on average, the 4th-driest month of the year. The annual total is about 39.0 in (991 mm).
What should I pack for Mývatn in May?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 31°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible), packable rain jacket or umbrella (about 2.8 in of rain) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
Planning Mývatn in May?
Share this May plan with your group, poll everyone on dates and keep the packing list in one place.