Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) weather

Headline:

Dry and bright. Chilly winds.

Today:

Mainly dry and bright with sunny spells, the best of the sunshine across Shetland. Cloudier skies at times in Orkney, perhaps the odd light showers. Feeling chilly in the moderate to fresh east or southeast winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.

Tonight:

Generally dry with clear spells, again Shetland likely to see the best of the breaks. Isolated light showers possible over Orkney and a touch of frost possible in shelter. Minimum temperature 1 °C.

Wednesday:

Bright with occasional sunny spells. Remaining rather cold and winds light or moderate from the east or southeast. Maximum temperature 6 °C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Rather cold and bright with the chance of a frost at night. Often dry but there will be occasional showers, these wintry at times. Light or moderate easterly winds.

Southeasterly winds are likely at the start of this period. This will maintain below average temperatures and often cloudy conditions. There is a chance of even colder conditions developing temporarily, which would see more wintry showers, especially in eastern parts of the country. Meanwhile, Atlantic frontal zones, bringing milder conditions and rain, will attempt to move in from the west or southwest. Early in this period these look likely to have limited influence over the UK though should they push further northeastwards this would increase the chance of snow for some areas. The balance and transition between colder easterly winds and milder, wetter southwesterly winds remains uncertain during mid-February, but towards the end of this period, the milder, wetter conditions are likely to have spread across much of the country.

Although there is a small risk of colder conditions lingering for a time at the start of this period, it is most likely that an unsettled theme will probably have become established, with weather systems moving close to or across the UK. This will mean bands of rain and perhaps periods of strong winds spreading in from the west, interspersed with some drier and brighter interludes, but likely bringing above average rainfall amounts overall. Temperatures are most likely to become close to or a little above average by early March.