Orkney & Shetland weather

Headline:

Scattered wintry showers and strong northerly winds

This Evening and Tonight:

The evening will begin with a fresh northerly breeze and scattered wintry showers. The wind will soon ease further with the showers becoming less heavy and frequent Minimum temperature -1 °C.

Tuesday:

Much of the day cloudy with outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow across Orkney, but soon turning colder with frequent heavy snow showers over Shetland. Northerly winds strengthening later. Maximum temperature 3 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Frequent snow showers and a strong northerly wind continue into Thursday morning. The showers die and the wind eases Thursday into Friday. Rain, wintry at first, spreads east late Friday.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Mon 17 Nov 2025

Atlantic weather fronts will continue to spread east bringing spells of rain, potentially quite widely. More showery conditions will likely follow but there will be some brighter spells at times. The showery conditions will likely persist for a few subsequent days, though there is some risk of Atlantic frontal systems moving in from the west at times. Temperatures will be a little below normal. A westerly dominated pattern will likely persist through to the end of November with outbreaks of rain or showers and temperatures near to or a little below normal. There could however still be some wintry showers at times in the north. Areas if low pressure may bring longer spells of rain and periods of strong winds at times.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Mon 17 Nov 2025

Whilst there is a lot of uncertainty as to the flavour of weather affecting the UK into December, there is a greater chance than normal of slower evolving weather patterns. A mixture of weather types seems most likely and so some wetter days, with widespread rain or showers and the chance of snow, mainly for higher ground in the north. Equally some drier periods are also anticipated, increasing the possibility of some frosty nights and fog. Overall, temperatures close to average are most likely, but some colder spells are also possible, especially if any prolonged settled spells develop.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Mon 17 Nov 2025