Weather

So far the summer of 2018 is the worst on record in Reykjavík

By Staff

Instagramming the rain Last month was officially the worst June in at least 100 years. Photo/Eyþór

So far the summer of 2018 in Reykjavík is the single worst on record. June saw less sunshine than any year since reliable monitoring began by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, more than 100 years ago. May also set a record for the wettest May on record. Unfortunately there is nothing to suggest July will be much better: The weather forecast for the next couple of weeks suggests a continuation of the overcast, chilly and rainy misery Reykjavíkians have been suffering through since early spring.

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According to the IMO Reykjavík only saw 70.6 hours of sunshine in June, which is only a third of the ten year average, and just half of the long term average. June was also unusually chilly: The average temperature in Reykjavík was just 13°C (55.4°F), 1.6°C below the 10 year average. The previous record for lack of sunshine was June 1988, when Reykjavík only saw 72 hours of sunshine.

A meteorologist with the IMO told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the cold, chilly and overcast weather in June is the result of several different factors, including the interplay of unusually warm weather in Scandinavia and the British Isles and a cold spot in the North Atlantic. These unusual conditions are expected to remain in place for the next couple of weeks.