Kirkwall Youth Hostel (Orkney Islands) weather

Headline:

Further snow showers and some sunny interludes. Less windy,

Today:

Frequent and occasionally heavy snow showers in the morning with a few brighter spells. These become less frequent through the afternoon, allowing some bright or sunny intervals to develop. Moderate north or northwest breeze. Maximum temperature 2 °C.

Tonight:

There will be clear intervals and further snow showers this evening and tonight. the showers becoming isolated over Shetland later, while more general sleet or snow reaches Orkney. Minimum temperature -3 °C.

Tuesday:

Sleet and snow over Orkney soon turning to rain in morning, some heavy. Similar for Shetland with late morning snow turning to rain on low ground in afternoon. Colder overnight. Maximum temperature 5 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

WIntry showers clearing Orkney then dry with sunny spells on Wednesday. Thursday bright with some sunshine, a few wintry showers. Friday less cold, some rain showers.

A changeable period is expected, with Atlantic frontal systems occasionally affecting the UK, bringing spells of rain, likely preceded by snow in some areas, more especially central, northern and eastern parts. Some significant snowfall is possible in places, particularly on northern hills. These low pressure systems could also bring some strong winds. These will be interspersed with quieter, drier interludes under transient ridges of high pressure, with the potential for frost, and wintry showers along coasts exposed to northerly winds. Temperatures will tend to trend closer to average as the period progresses, mainly in the south, such that the frequency of wintry hazards, especially in the south, may reduce slightly. However, there is a hint late in this period that it may briefly turn widely drier and colder again.

The outlook through the latter part of January and into the start of February is very uncertain, with no strong indication for any particular weather pattern to dominate. However, a broadly westerly regime seems more likely than not. As such, conditions are most likely to be changeable. Spells of wet, windy and mild weather are likely at times, along with some colder, drier interludes with overnight frost and fog. There is a hint that this period may start off largely dry and cold though. Snow and ice remain possible, especially in central and northern parts of the UK, but the chance of these is generally lower than earlier in January.