Iceland marks the First Day of Summer tomorrow, April 24, with a mild, dry weather forecast. The holiday celebrates the start of summer in the old Norse calendar.
A summery first day of summer
Tomorrow, Thursday, April 24, will mark the First Day of Summer (Sumardagurinn fyrsti), a national holiday in Iceland.
Rooted in the old Norse calendar, which divided the year into just two seasons—winter and summer—this day signals the beginning of the summer half of the year, specifically the first day of the month Harpa.
Though the First Day of Summer rarely lives up to its name in terms of weather, this year’s forecast is relatively mild and bright—by Icelandic standards.
“There is warmer air moving in…”
In an interview with Mbl.is published today, meteorologist Teitur Arason observed that tomorrow should see relatively warm temperatures across the country.
“There is warmer air moving in over the country and high clouds, with temperatures likely between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius in the capital region,” Teitur stated, adding that the capital area would see an easterly wind of around 10 metres per second (the Icelandic MET Office forecasts that the wind will increase towards evening).
“It will be dry and fairly bright, with no rain forecast for the southern part of the country until Friday,” Teitur added.
Forecast: “Quite decent”
Teitur added that similar weather can be expected in the western and northern regions, where conditions will be dry and clear.
“There will be an easterly breeze of 3 to 8 metres per second, and temperatures will range from 5 to 10 degrees, possibly reaching 10 degrees at midday when the sun is highest.”
In the Eastfjords, it is likely to be cloudier with a chance of light precipitation.
“Conditions will be more overcast in the Eastfjords and Southeast Iceland, where light rain is also expected, and winds will be strongest along the south coast. Overall, the weather can be described as quite decent,” Teitur concluded.
If winter and summer “freeze together”
The First Day of Summer is observed annually on the first Thursday after April 18. Though weather conditions can still be wintry, the day symbolises the end of Iceland’s long, dark winter and the return of light. Celebrations often include parades, outdoor games, and community events.
According to Icelandic folklore, if “winter and summer freeze together”—meaning temperatures dip below freezing the night before—it is seen as a sign of a good summer to come. Ethnologist Árni Björnsson, in The History of the Days (Saga daganna), notes that the notion of a “good summer” likely refers to stronger livestock yields. As Mbl.is points out, a late-arriving summer tends to produce more nutrient-rich grass, which benefits farm productivity.
