All Countries
Weather & Climate in Selfoss, Iceland
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Selfoss has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (4°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 51°F in July. The area gets 246 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 49.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 23.1 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. The city sits at an elevation of 52 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)
51°F Jul (11°C)
| Annual Average | 39.9°F |
| 26% below US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 51°F (11°C) |
| Sunny Days | 246 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Area | 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 11,688/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 63.9331°N, 20.9971°W |
| Timezone | Atlantic/Reykjavik |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
167 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.5.
| Jun 21, 2000 | 12 km ENE of Selfoss, Iceland | M6.5 | 13 km | 10 km |
| Jun 17, 2000 | 25 km E of Selfoss, Iceland | M6.5 | 25 km | 10 km |
| May 29, 2008 | 8 km N of Selfoss, Iceland | M6.3 | 8 km | 9 km |
| Jun 17, 2000 | 18 km E of Selfoss, Iceland | M5.7 | 18 km | 10 km |
| Feb 24, 2021 | 6 km SE of Vogar, Iceland | M5.6 | 63 km | 10 km |
| Jun 4, 1998 | 5 km W of Hveragerði, Iceland | M5.4 | 16 km | 10 km |
| Jul 31, 2022 | 3 km SSE of Vogar, Iceland | M5.4 | 66 km | 10 km |
| Mar 14, 2021 | 9 km SW of Álftanes, Iceland | M5.3 | 57 km | 10 km |
| Mar 7, 2021 | 11 km ENE of Vogar, Iceland | M5.3 | 58 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 1991 | 47 km NNE of Hveragerði, Iceland | M5.2 | 52 km | 10 km |
| Jul 9, 2023 | 9 km SW of Álftanes, Iceland | M5.2 | 58 km | 5 km |
| Apr 1, 2025 | 6 km NW of Grindavík, Iceland | M5.2 | 74 km | 10 km |
| Aug 23, 2003 | 9 km SE of Vogar, Iceland | M5.2 | 62 km | 10 km |
| Feb 27, 2021 | 8 km SW of Álftanes, Iceland | M5.2 | 57 km | 10 km |
| Nov 13, 1998 | 10 km WNW of Þorlákshöfn, Iceland | M5.1 | 30 km | 10 km |
| Mar 10, 2021 | 9 km SW of Álftanes, Iceland | M5.1 | 58 km | 10 km |
| Aug 2, 2022 | 1 km SSE of Hafnarfjörður, Iceland | M5.0 | 47 km | 10 km |
| Jun 17, 2000 | 9 km ENE of Vogar, Iceland | M4.9 | 59 km | 10 km |
| May 24, 2025 | 23 km W of Grindavík, Iceland | M4.9 | 95 km | 10 km |
| Mar 1, 2021 | 5 km SW of Álftanes, Iceland | M4.9 | 56 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 75.0 m (246 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1967 | ICELAND: CENTRAL-SOUTH | Meteorological | 75.0 m | — | 76 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Grimsnes (14 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Grimsnes | Crater rows | 200 m (656 ft) | -3500 | 14 km |
| Hromundartindur | Stratovolcano | 550 m (1,804 ft) | Unknown | 23 km |
| Hengill | Crater rows | 803 m (2,635 ft) | 150 | 26 km |
| Brennisteinsfjoll | Crater rows | 610 m (2,001 ft) | 1341 | 38 km |
| Krysuvik | Crater rows | 360 m (1,181 ft) | 1340 | 53 km |
| Tindfjallajokull | Stratovolcano | 1,464 m (4,803 ft) | Unknown | 65 km |
| Hekla | Stratovolcano | 1,490 m (4,888 ft) | 2000 | 65 km |
| Vestmannaeyjar | Submarine | 283 m (928 ft) | 1973 | 68 km |
| Prestahnukur | Subglacial | 1,385 m (4,544 ft) | -3350 | 74 km |
| Eyjafjallajokull | Stratovolcano | 1,651 m (5,417 ft) | 2010 | 75 km |
| Reykjanes | Crater rows | 140 m (459 ft) | 1831 | 77 km |
| Torfajokull | Stratovolcano | 1,280 m (4,199 ft) | 1477 | 92 km |
| Katla | Subglacial | 1,490 m (4,888 ft) | 1918 | 100 km |
| Langjokull | Subglacial | 1,100 m (3,609 ft) | 950 | 120 km |
| Ljosufjoll | Fissure vent(s) | 1,063 m (3,488 ft) | 960 | 129 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-1°C) | 4.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 32°F (-0°C) | 4.8 in | Wettest |
| March | 33°F (1°C) | 4.7 in | |
| April | 38°F (3°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 in | |
| June | 48°F (9°C) | 3.2 in | Driest |
| July | 51°F (11°C) | 3.4 in | Warmest |
| August | 51°F (10°C) | 4.5 in | |
| September | 46°F (8°C) | 4.2 in | |
| October | 40°F (5°C) | 4.7 in | |
| November | 35°F (1°C) | 4.5 in | |
| December | 31°F (-0°C) | 4.7 in |
Selfoss has a seasonal temperature swing of 21°F / from 31°F in January to 51°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.7 inches, with February being the wettest month (4.8") and June the driest (3.2").