Orkney & Shetland weather

Headline:

Rain, sleet and snow showers.

Today:

A mix of rain, sleet and some snow showers, with sunny spells in between. Light winds, especially across Shetland, but starting to pick up through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.

Tonight:

Rain, sleet and snow showers will continue through this evening and overnight, although becoming less frequent at times. Showers occasionally heavy with some gusty winds. Minimum temperature -2 °C.

Friday:

Frequent sleet and snow showers in the morning, but turning drier in the afternoon with some good spells of sunshine as showers become more isolated. Maximum temperature 6 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

A fine dry start to Saturday, but turning cloudier and windier with rain spreading north in the evening. Occasionally heavy rain clearing Sunday, but further rain or showers on Monday.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Thu 21 Nov 2024

An unsettled start, with strong winds and some showers for many parts, these most frequent in the north. Temperatures easing back towards average for most places, but still mild in the southeast. The strong winds will make it feel rather cold though. It then looks like turning colder for all parts, with a return of wintry showers for a time, especially in the north. Conditions then look like settling down as high pressure briefly builds across the country, this bringing a risk of some stubborn fog patches as winds ease. It may turn unsettled and milder again later next week. Into December, high pressure may re-assert itself, with temperatures generally close to average, but some overnight frost is likely, and rather cold by day where any fog persists.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Wed 20 Nov 2024

The start of this period looks like being largely settled, with high pressure close to if not over the UK. However. there is also a chance of more changeable weather patterns, which would see Atlantic weather systems periodically move across the country. 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.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Wed 20 Nov 2024