Þorlákshöfn
Þorlákshöfn, Southern Region, Iceland
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: February
Þorlákshöfn is a fishing and ferry harbour town on the south coast of Iceland, about an hour's drive from Reykjavík. A right-hand point break near the lighthouse and harbour is the best-known surf spot in Iceland, breaking over rocks on south and south-west swells from the North Atlantic, and a black-sand beach nearby gives easier waves on smaller days. Northerly winds blow offshore here, coming down from the land.
The point breaks over rock and can be powerful, so it suits intermediate and experienced surfers, while the beach can suit improvers on small days. Autumn to spring brings the most swell, but storms, strong winds and very short winter daylight make conditions change quickly. The water is very cold all year, so a 5–6 mm hooded wetsuit with thick boots and gloves is needed. The line-up is small, and there are rocks, currents near the harbour and limited help nearby, so surf with others and check local rules around the harbour.
Month by month at Þorlákshöfn
- January: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 4.1 m, water 5°C, air 2°C (nights -3°C), 0 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- February: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 4.9 m, water 5°C, air 2°C (nights -3°C), 9 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- March: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 4 m, water 5°C, air 3°C (nights -2°C), 16 sunny days, 18 rainy days
- April: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 2.7 m, water 6°C, air 7°C (nights 1°C), 18 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- May: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 2.4 m, water 8°C, air 10°C (nights 5°C), 19 sunny days, 20 rainy days
- June: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 10°C, air 12°C (nights 7°C), 19 sunny days, 18 rainy days
- July: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 11°C, air 14°C (nights 9°C), 18 sunny days, 16 rainy days
- August: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.9 m, water 12°C, air 14°C (nights 8°C), 19 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- September: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 2.5 m, water 11°C, air 11°C (nights 6°C), 16 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- October: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 2.7 m, water 9°C, air 6°C (nights 2°C), 11 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- November: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 3.2 m, water 7°C, air 4°C (nights 0°C), 3 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- December: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 3.8 m, water 6°C, air 1°C (nights -3°C), 0 sunny days, 15 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing at Þorlákshöfn?
February, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Þorlákshöfn?
5°C to 12°C over the year: a 5/4 with hood, boots and gloves in the warmest month, a 6/5 with hood, boots and gloves in the coolest.
How windy is Þorlákshöfn?
About 74 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in February.
Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).