Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) weather

Headline:

Showers and northerly winds gradually easing today.

Today:

A showery start with frequent through the morning, before gradually dwindling through the afternoon as the strong north to northwest winds ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.

Tonight:

Mainly dry with only a few light showers about. Northerly breezes easing light overnight, combining with clear spells to bring a frost for some parts away for windward coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.

Wednesday:

A frosty start for some, with temperatures only slowly lifting in plentiful weak sunshine. Most dry with only a few isolated light showers appearing. Maximum temperature 5 °C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Mainly dry and bright for Thursday. Milder for Friday and Saturday as strengthening southerly winds bring occasional rain, this most persistent during Friday.

Mainly dry with some clear or sunny spells but rather cold towards the southeast at first as high pressure over the continent extends its influence here. Cloudier, windier and milder in the north and west with some outbreaks of rain. Early next week, it looks like the rain in the west will edge further east, bringing a short spell of rain to the east. High pressure may then re-assert itself close to or over the UK through early December. The largely dry, settled theme may be punctuated by brief unsettled spells though with areas of low pressure possibly crossing the UK, bringing some spells of wind and rain. 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 towards mid-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 may prevail into late December, although drier, more settled spells may also affect the UK at times, these probably more likely towards the south. Temperatures generally close to average through the period.