Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) weather

Headline:

Showers for Orkney early Saturday, passing to Shetland later.

Today:

Sunny spells and mist patches at first over Orkney. Mist and showers passing to Shetland during the afternoon as drier, brighter fare develops over Orkney. Maximum temperature 18 °C.

Tonight:

Mist patches over Shetland this evening, while Orkney will have lengthy clear periods. The odd shower is possible at first, before showers turn widespread and thundery through the early hours. Minimum temperature 12 °C.

Sunday:

Variable cloud with outbreaks of showery rain on Sunday, this perhaps heavy and thundery at times. Turning drier later with some sunnier spells developing later in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 17 °C.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

A changeable few days with showers or outbreaks of rain. There will be a good deal of cloud around, however a few sunnier periods are expected at times.

Rather changeable conditions are anticipated through this period, as a series of Atlantic low pressure systems pass largely to the northwest of the UK. These will tend to bring some occasional rain or showers, most frequent in northwestern areas where it may also be rather breezy or windy at times. Whilst some rain or showers will be possible farther south and east, here longer drier spells are more likely, under the influence of higher pressure. There is also the chance of some occasional very warm weather, as south or southwesterly winds allow brief bursts of hotter air to encroach from the continent, but probably fairly short-lived and perhaps also accompanied by a few thunderstorms at times.

Rather changeable conditions are anticipated through the first half of July, the wettest and windiest conditions most likely towards the northwest with a risk of some heavy rain at times, especially over hills. Southern and eastern areas are most favoured for longer drier and more settled spells, although even here some occasional rain or showers will be possible, perhaps thundery. Temperatures are expected to be above average for most areas, especially towards the southeast where there will be an ongoing chance of some very warm or hot conditions at times.