Orkney & Shetland

Headline:

Wet start then sunny intervals and showers. Windy.

Today:

A wet start to the day with some heavy rain, soon brightening up to sunshine and scattered showers over Orkney, then Shetland brightening in afternoon. Strong southeasterly winds at first over Shetland, veering westerly and easing somewhat as it brightens. Maximum temperature 12 °C.

Tonight:

There will be a mixture of clear intervals and occasional showers, some heavy especially across Orkney. A moderate to fresh westerly breeze. Minimum temperature 8 °C.

Saturday:

Another day of bright or sunny intervals and occasional showers, some on the heavy side. Lighter winds for Shetland, a fresh west to northwesterly over Orkney. Maximum temperature 11 °C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Sunny intervals and isolated lighter showers on Sunday. Bright start Monday then cloudy with a little rain. Wet start Tuesday then sunshine and showers, gales.

Remaining changeable through the middle of October, as a series of low pressure systems run across the North Atlantic, often to the north and northwest of the UK, bringing occasional bands of rain and strong winds, but interspersed with brighter and more showery conditions. Rain will be most prevalent across hills in the west and especially northwest, where above average rainfall is likely through this period. Longer drier interludes are more favoured in sheltered southern and eastern parts, but even here it is likely to be wetter than during recent weeks. Whilst brief cooler interludes are possible, temperatures are likely to be a little above average in many areas for the period as a whole, potentially quite warm in parts of the southeast early in the period.

The remainder of October and into early November will probably maintain a changeable pattern overall, with areas of low pressure often passing close to the UK from the North Atlantic, interspersed by occasional ridges of high pressure. As such, showers or longer spells of rain are likely at times, with the wettest and windiest weather typically in the west and northwest, driest conditions more favoured in sheltered southern and eastern parts, and perhaps more widely initially. A trend to more widely unsettled conditions is possible into November. Whilst some occasional colder interludes will be possible at times, temperatures are likely to be near or a little above average for the period as a whole.