Iceland is known for extreme weather at least some of the time and the surroundings of Vatnajökull Glacier. The southeast of Iceland has somewhat uniqueness in weather compared to other parts of the country. It is in fact warmer and rainier than any other parts of the country.
There is a weather station located five kilometers from Fjallsárlón iceberg lagoon named KVÍSKER. There the Icelandic record for most rain in 24 hours was recorded there on the 10th of January 2002. The rain fall was measured at 293,2 mm on the day but that equals to 293 liters of water falling on each square meter.
Despite what many would think looking at the impressive glaciers all around this part of the country the southeast is one of the warmest parts of Iceland. The climate is fairly mild as the warm sea and the gulf stream deliver warmth from the south part of the planet. Just recently on November 14, 2024, a new record was set for the hottest November day in the area, with the temperature reaching 23.8°C at Kvísker weather station.
The high mountains and glaciers that are in the area are the main factor for all these big natural contrasts. Hvannadalshnjúkur the highest mountain in Iceland is located close to Skaftafell National Park and Öræfajökull Glacier towers over Fjallsárlón lagoon. Therefore the weather can be quite unpredictable at times and over a short distance can be quite different from one place to another. For example, from Fjallsárlón iceberg lagoon to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon it is only about ten kilometers. Depending on the wind direction we can have storm or gale force winds at one place and not the other.
The clouds drift in from the sea in the south and then get caught in the high mountains or the glaciers as a result it either starts to rain or snow. The yearly rainfall in the area is considered to be between 4000-5000 mm during the year. This amount of rain or snow then builds up on top of the glaciers or the mountain tops where you will find temperatures below 0 degrees.
One of the driest places in Iceland you will find North of Vatnajökull glacier as clouds have normally delivered most of the rain on top of the glacier coming from the south. Saying that the statistics show that despite all this rain in the area, sunny days are not fewer in this part of the Iceland than in others. The clouds often clear off quickly or are located higher up in the mountains.
In Fjallsárlón lagoon we definitely have our good share of nice weather in the summer. Rainy days are not many most summers, but in case it is raining we provide good gear for guests going on tours with us. The lagoon is also very beautiful on rainy and cloudy days as you will most likely see more blue ice. We sail in all sorts of weather and only cancel tours if there are extreme conditions.
In this area we regularly have storms, especially during the winter. Always check the weather forecast in case there is any warning. One thing to keep in mind is the high mountains will make the winds only isolated to a small part. For example, if the strong wind is from the northeast the weather is bad around Skaftafell National Park area but much better at Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon. When doing tours with us you can always contact us and check with our staff when there is a weather warning. It might not affect your tour at all. We offer iceberg boat tours and glacier hikes during summer and then during winter we offer ice cave tours.
If you are interested in joining any of our tours from Fjallsárlón please check our tour selection below. We aim to offer personalized tours away from mass tourism. When people google what to do in Iceland you will probably find that Diamond beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is something that pops up high on the list. We recommend that people visit both sights and take some photos and enjoy the view, there is a parking fee to be paid, and the car park is next to the lagoon. Fjallsárlón lagoon is not visible from the main road so when you stand on the beach of Fjallsárlón and turn around you cannot see the buildings, car park or the ring road. So even if you are close to the ring road with easy access it feels like you are in a much more isolated place with unspoiled natural view and a lot less crowds that the neighboring Jökulsárlón. If you do not feel like going for a tour, a walk to Fjallsárlón lagoon and a quick bite at Frost restaurant may be suitable. Parking at Fjallsárlón is free of charge and your time spent there we assure you will be time well spent.
