A Brief Overview of the Year 2024
The year 2024 will be remembered for its unusual chill. As temperatures dipped significantly below the averages seen in recent decades, the national mean fell to 0.8 degrees below the 1991-2020 span. This made 2024 the coldest year since 1998. The starkest contrast in temperatures was felt inland in the North, where frosty conditions prevailed, while the southern coast saw comparatively milder weather.
While the summer months soaked the nation in rain, the rest of the year remained relatively dry in many regions. Overall, the eastern, southern, and southwestern parts of the country experienced below-average precipitation, in stark contrast to the North and West, which grappled with heavy rainfall. A conspicuous drop in sea level pressure from June to August coincided with frequent low-pressure systems that brought about unfavorable weather patterns throughout the season. Nevertheless, other seasons offered a more tranquil climate, sustaining average wind speeds and stable sea level pressure.
The winter of 2023-2024 stood in marked contrast to the somber chill of the year, offering a relatively calm and dry atmosphere, although temperatures remained persistently low across the country.
Spring flipped the script, with average temperatures returning to norm, although April was notably frigid—especially in Northeast Iceland—bringing rain and snow that lingered into late April. May, however, turned the tide, serving up warmer days in the northeast and a damp spell in the southwest.
As summer unfurled from June to September, the nation braced for what was the coldest summer in recent history, with many days failing to reach the warmth one might expect. Except for a comparatively warm July in the northeast and east, every summer month was marked by lower-than-normal temperatures. Reykjavík, in particular, recorded its lowest sea level pressure for August since records began in 1820. The summer’s capstone was a surprising cold snap at its onset that delivered an unusual layer of snow to northern areas. Persistent rainstorms followed, especially in the western regions, leading to significant flooding in rivers and streams and even landslides in some areas.
September, however, was a welcome reprieve, offering relatively dry and sunny weather, despite its chilliness.
As autumn arrived, October continued the trend of cold, calm days but saw a dramatic temperature variation throughout November. The first half of the month broke records with mild temperatures, nurtured by warm, southerly winds that brought rain to the southern and western stretches of the country while leaving the north and east dry. A remarkable peak in temperature hit 23.8°C at Kvísker, marking the hottest November day ever recorded in Iceland. Yet, just days later, an abrupt drop descended over the latter half of the month, returning temperatures to well below average.
By December, the cold returned with a mix of dry conditions in the north and wet weather lurking in the west.
Temperature Trends
Reykjavík saw its average annual temperature drop to 4.3°C, marking a decline of 0.9°C from the 1991-2020 mean, and 1.1°C below the average over the past decade. In Stykkishólmur, the average temperature landed at 3.7°C, again indicating a drop of 0.8°C from the 1991-2020 mean. For Akureyri and Egilsstaðir, the numbers were similarly chilly—averaging 3.3°C and 3.2°C, respectively.
Overall, the national average temperature fell to 3.4°C—0.8°C below the 1991-2020 baseline and 1.0°C below the past decade’s mean, marking 2024 as the coldest year since 1998.
The stark contrast in temperature across various locales reveals a consistent trend: areas inland in the North experienced the most significant drops, while the southern coast remained relatively warm. Notably, the most disconcerting temperature anomaly swung to Flatey on Skjálfandi with a chilling negative shift of 1.4°C.
Conversely, the lowest recorded maximum temperature for the year found its resting place at Svartárkot on December 31, plunging to -28.2°C. In Reykjavík, the highest reading barely tickled the 17.4°C mark on July 15, a notably low figure that hasn’t graced the city since 2001.
Precipitation Patterns
Precipitation patterns throughout 2024 diverged sharply across the landscape. Annual precipitation levels were predominantly below average in the East, South, and Southwest, while the North and West reported above-average rainfall. The summer months emerged as remarkably wet, yet the rest of the year failed to keep pace with precipitation averages.
In Reykjavík, 827.7 mm of precipitation was recorded—95% of the 1991-2020 average—while Stykkishólmur saw 896.2 mm, a 21% increase over its historical average. Akureyri managed 585.2 mm, a modest 2% rise over the long-term average, but still lagging behind the past decade’s norms.
The summer reached a seismic peak during a rainstorm in July, delivering a staggering 235.2 mm at Grundarfjörður—the highest 24-hour precipitation ever recorded for that month. This deluge left casualties in the form of flooding and landslides, particularly in regions stricken most by rainfall.
Snow and Sunshine
Snow days, critical for various sectors, fared well in some areas—particularly in Akureyri, which reported a notable 122 fully snow-covered days. However, Reykjavík experienced a dip to 48 snow-covered days, falling shy of historical averages. The year saw remarkable snow depths recorded as late as June in North Iceland, revealing an unexpected side of the season’s transitions.
In terms of sunshine, Reykjavík basked in 1459.3 hours this year, surpassing the averages by significant margins. In Akureyri, the tally reached 1192.1 hours, with both cities witnessing fluctuations in their sunlight exposure across varying months.
Conclusion
In sum, 2024 unfurled as a year of notable meteorological extremes—a juxtaposition of mild interludes and robust cold spells, with precipitation varying dramatically across the nation. The extremes in weather patterns serve as a poignant reminder of the intricate tapestry that is Iceland’s climate, leaving us to ponder how these shifts will unfold in the future.