February in Iceland is cold.
And if you’re wondering what to wear in Iceland in February, this post is for you.
You can expect, wind, rain, snow, sun, and sad Icelanders.
The days are getting longer (they’re still short though) and the weather is…bad.
But I’m here to help!
In this post, I’ll quickly go over what weather to expect and how to prepare for it!
So let’s jump into it!
What’s the weather like in Iceland in February?
I’ve lived in Iceland my whole life and February always hits hard.
The holidays are over and there’s nothing to look forward to except summer which is still a few months away…if it arrives at all.
But before I can tell you what to wear in Iceland in February, let me tell you what to expect.
The weather in Iceland in February is still quite cold. Winter is slowly receding but nowhere near done.
Temperature
The average temperature ranges from -2°C (28°F) – 3°C (27°F).
But that doesn’t factor in humidity or wind.
So don’t be fooled by those numbers.
We get more storms during the winter months so you can expect lots of wind and yellow warnings.
You should stay updated through vedur.is and road.is
Rain
It’s also going to rain a fair bit.
The chance of precipitation is the highest in February. It can come in the form of snow, sleet, hail or rain…or all of the above….over the course of an hour!
Since it’s not cold enough for consistent snowfall we get a lot of rain during this month. Or maybe not! You never know (uhhm what?), but you should prepare for it.
The main thing with Icelandic weather is that you can never trust it.
So you have to be prepared for the worst while you hope for the best.
Daylight
The days are getting longer for sure…but daylight is still sparse.
The sun rises at 10:00 AM at the beginning of the month and sets at 5:15 PM.
While at the end of February the sun rises at 8:40 AM and sets at 6:40 PM.
However, you can expect a lot of grumpy Icelanders.
The lack of daylight, the cold days, and the terrible weather have really taken a toll. And with nothing to look forward to for a while, the lack of vitamin D is really starting to show.
Now that you know what to expect let me tell you what clothing you need to wear for the winter in Iceland.
What to wear in Iceland in February
Here’s the best clothing to wear in Iceland in February.
Parka
The main workhorse for Icelanders during the winter months.
This bad boy is waterproof, windproof, and will keep you warm in extreme conditions.
The best thing about the parka is that you won’t need as many layers.
Instead of bringing the entire wardrobe to our little island, just bring a hoodie and a t-shirt! (I’m joking, please bring more, but you get the point)
Outdoor pants
Don’t forget about your legs. As I’ve mentioned, you can expect rain in February.
And traveling in wet pants isn’t nice.
This is why it’s important to be wearing water-resistant and windproof pants while you’re in Iceland.
Beanie
You won’t need a super thick hat for Iceland. As long as you’re wearing one, you’ll be fine.
But if you forget it, your ears will let you know how much they hate you.
Hiking boots
Proper boots are very important in Iceland all year round. But in the winter, doubly so!
They need to be waterproof and able to withstand a bit of cold. Bring sneakers for nice days (fingers crossed) but you should be wearing a nice pair of boots all the time.
And make sure that they provide support to your ankle!
Socks
You’ll need some good socks.
That doesn’t mean they have to be SUPER thick. While that is of course good, what you really want are socks that dry fast.
Since you’ll be exploring the countryside, you’ll probably get wet at some point. Or at the very least, sweat.
And if your socks don’t dry quickly, then you’ll get cold! Which is something we don’t want!
Gloves
Your gloves should protect against the cold and wind. While having gloves that protect against the rain as well is nice, it’s not necessary.
The most important thing is to have them!
Thermal underwear
Thermal underwear is great for Iceland.
They provide a thin warm layer that dries quickly. If you’re wearing a parka, for example, you could get away with wearing ONLY thermal underwear underneath.
That, however, depends on the day and I would always recommend bringing a bag with some extra layers just in case
Bonus point: hand warmers
If you’re really prone to cold, then hand warmers might be right up your alley.
A great add-on if the gloves you have just don’t do the job.
Not necessary, but nice to have in case you need them.
Final words
That’s it!
Now you know what to expect and how to prepare for it!
Follow this short list of what to wear in Iceland in February and you’ll be set for any weather.
And if you need more information on how to dress for winter, check this post right here!
