Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) weather

Headline:

Cloudy with patchy rain. Misty with risk fog patches early.

Today:

A dull overcast day with occasional outbreaks of light rain and drizzle. Misty early with the risk of fog patches, but some chance of limited brighter intervals developing for the afternoon. West to northwest breezes. Maximum temperature 13 °C.

Tonight:

Cloudy evening with a few light showers about. Largely dry overnight with some clear spells developing, but cloud thickening across Orkney towards dawn to bring the chance of light rain. Minimum temperature 8 °C.

Monday:

Some early brightness across Shetland, otherwise cloudy with occasional rain, heaviest across Orkney early afternoon, before clearing from the south late afternoon and through the evening. Maximum temperature 14 °C.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:

Seasonally unsettled with showers that merge to longer periods of rain at times, chiefly early Wednesday. Winds occasionally strong for Wednesday and Thursday.

The outlook period likely sees a continuation of the changeable conditions, with occasional bands of rain moving in from the west or northwest. There will be a good deal of dry, warm, and settled weather in between frontal systems, with the best conditions most likely in the south and east where winds will be lighter. In contrast, further north and west, it will generally be breezier, and any rain that does occur will be heaviest over the hills. Cloud cover will vary, with cloudier weather expected in the north and west, while clearer skies are likely in the south and east. Temperatures will be around or a little below average for the time of year, but on sunnier days with lighter winds, it will still feel warm or rather warm.

On balance most likely rather changeable at first, with periods of unsettled and cloudy, wet weather mixed with spells of dry and fine weather, with weather systems tending to come from the west. This means that the west is likely to see the wettest conditions, while the east will tend to be drier. By mid month there is a signal for more settled conditions to develop, so more in the way of dry weather, although still with a risk of some rain / showers at times. Temperatures close to average at first, but with a greater chance of warmer than average conditions later in the period.