Wide Firth (Orkney Islands) weather

Headline:

Mainly dry on Thursday. Sunny periods developing.

This Evening and Tonight:

Showery rain over Orkney this evening clearing to clear spells and isolated showers overnight. Meanwhile Shetland turning wet with some persistent rain, easing towards morning Minimum temperature 11 °C.

Thursday:

Any lingering cloud and rain over Shetland soon clearing. Then a mainly dry day with some sunny spells, but the odd afternoon shower breaking out mainly over Orkney. Winds easing. Maximum temperature 17 °C.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Mainly dry with sunny spells on Friday. A cloudy start on Saturday, perhaps a little rain, then brightening up with sunshine. Sunny on Sunday, but cloudier later, evening rain, windy.

Much of this period will be unsettled, with low pressure systems likely to dominate the overall pattern. This will mean showers or longer spells of rain will affect much of the UK at times. Some heavy rain or showers are expected in places, most often in the west and north. Thunderstorms and hail are also possible, as are some spells of strong winds, especially if any deep areas of low pressure develop and affect the UK. Later in the period, there may be some longer spells of drier weather that develop, especially towards the south, with more in the way of sunshine due to higher pressure. Temperatures will likely be close to average or slightly below overall, but may rise above at times in any drier, sunnier spells.

This period is likely to be changeable. Areas of low pressure are likely at times, especially towards the north or northwest of the UK. These will bring spells of rain and showers, some of which are likely to be heavy with a risk of hail and thunder, and some windy conditions, especially if any deep lows form. Some drier, more settled interludes are also likely, perhaps more particularly early in the period when higher pressure may be more dominant, especially towards the south. Temperatures are likely to be close to or a little above average overall.