From Iceland — Iceland Colder Than A Martian Spring Today

Iceland Colder Than A Martian Spring Today

Published December 3, 2018

Photo by
Anna Andersen

Temperatures in Iceland will get so cold today, the surface of Mars in the early spring would actually be warmer.

The weather for most of Iceland will see clear skies and very light winds, but the temperature is going to be downright frigid. Coastal regions will see the thermometer plummet down to -8° to -10°, but in the north and in the Highlands, the cold will be literally out of this world.

In the northern parts of the Westfjords, the mountains of the northwest, and the desert regions of the northeast, temperatures will get as cold as -16° and -18°.

If you were planning a snowmobile or hiking trip on top of one of Iceland’s Highland glaciers today, such as Vatnajökull and Hofsjökull, you can expect to experience cold as far down as -24° to -27°. This is, in fact, colder than the average highs of Mars during its coldest months, March and April. There, the red planet sees average highs of -23° and -20°, respectively, for those two months.

Fortunately, this is still warmer than the average low temperatures on Mars for these months, -88° and -87°, but Iceland being colder than Mars during a cold spell does give one pause. Look on the bright side: at least you can breathe the atmosphere.

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