Kirkwall Airport (Orkney Islands) weather

Headline:

Storm Bert brings gales then periods of rain.

Today:

Bright spells with a few showers becoming cloudy but drier for a time. Outbreaks of rain spread north over Orkney from the early afternoon with Shetland remaining dry into the evening. Southeast wind continues strengthening Orkney, spreading to Shetland later. Maximum temperature 6 °C.

Tonight:

A cloudy night, outbreaks of rain spread to Shetland by late evening, clearing Orkney for a time later. The wind eases a little overnight. Minimum temperature 3 °C.

Sunday:

Bright spells increase as rain clears north Sunday morning. The southeast wind strengthens as showers spread east through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 9 °C.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Wind turns north and strengthens to gale as showers, snow on hills, become frequent Monday. Showers clear and the wind falls light Tuesday leaving Wednesday mainly dry with bright spells.

Probably a quieter interlude to start this period for much of the UK as high pressure builds across the north with a return of night frosts. However there is still a risk of some rain across southern parts of the country on Wednesday, although the northern extent of this is uncertain. The high is likely to migrate eastwards during the second half of next week, potentially allowing some outbreaks of rain to move into some some northwestern areas along with some stronger winds. Into December, and while signals are mixed it looks most likely that high pressure may re-assert itself close to or over the UK, with temperatures generally near average, but some overnight frost is likely, and rather cold by day where any fog persists.

The start of this period looks like being largely settled, with high pressure close to if not over the UK. However as we move further into December there are signs that it will become less settled with west or northwesterly types preferred, These will bring some wetter and windier interludes with a risk of some snow, especially for hills in the north. These conditions look more likely to dominate towards the middle of December. Temperatures generally close to average through the period.