Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) weather
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Forecast days
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Today. Maximum daytime temperature: 14 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 8 degrees Celsius. Sunny intervals. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Today. Maximum daytime temperature: 14 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 8 degrees Celsius. Sunny intervals. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Friday 3 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 14 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Sunny changing to light showers by nighttime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Friday 3 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 14 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Sunny changing to light showers by nighttime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Saturday 4 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Sunny changing to cloudy by late morning. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Saturday 4 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Sunny changing to cloudy by late morning. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Sunday 5 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 14 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Overcast changing to sunny intervals in the afternoon. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Sunday 5 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 14 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Overcast changing to sunny intervals in the afternoon. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Monday 6 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 8 degrees Celsius. Overcast changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Moderate; Pollen: Low.Monday 6 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 8 degrees Celsius. Overcast changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Moderate; Pollen: Low.
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Tuesday 7 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 12 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 8 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;Tuesday 7 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 12 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 8 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;
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Wednesday 8 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 12 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Overcast. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;Wednesday 8 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 12 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Overcast. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;
Seven day forecast for Kirkwall
| Time | 12:00 | 13:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 21:00 | 22:00 | 23:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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<5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% |
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14°
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14°
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14°
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14°
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14°
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13°
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13°
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12°
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11°
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10°
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10°
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9°
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11° | 12° | 12° | 12° | 12° | 12° | 11° | 11° | 10° | 9° | 8° | 8° |
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E
12
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E
12
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E
12
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E
10
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E
9
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ENE
9
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ENE
9
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ENE
7
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ENE
6
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ENE
7
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NE
6
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NE
7
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18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
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VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG |
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Humidity
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68% | 66% | 66% | 66% | 67% | 68% | 69% | 73% | 76% | 80% | 82% | 84% |
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UV
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4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Time | 00:00 | 01:00 | 02:00 | 03:00 | 04:00 | 05:00 | 06:00 | 07:00 | 08:00 | 09:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 21:00 | 22:00 | 23:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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<5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | 40% | 10% |
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9°
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8°
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8°
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8°
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8°
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8°
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9°
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10°
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11°
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12°
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12°
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13°
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13°
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13°
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13°
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13°
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13°
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13°
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12°
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11°
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11°
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10°
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10°
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10°
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7° | 7° | 7° | 6° | 6° | 6° | 7° | 9° | 9° | 10° | 10° | 10° | 10° | 11° | 11° | 10° | 10° | 10° | 9° | 9° | 8° | 8° | 7° | 7° |
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ENE
7
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NE
6
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NE
6
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NNE
6
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NE
6
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NE
7
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NE
6
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ENE
7
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E
9
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E
11
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E
12
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E
13
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E
13
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ESE
14
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ESE
14
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ESE
15
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ESE
15
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ESE
14
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ESE
14
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ESE
13
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ESE
12
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E
11
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ESE
11
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ESE
10
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16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
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G | G | G | G | G | G | G | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | G | VG |
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Humidity
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86% | 87% | 87% | 88% | 89% | 89% | 87% | 83% | 78% | 75% | 72% | 71% | 69% | 68% | 68% | 67% | 67% | 69% | 70% | 73% | 77% | 80% | 84% | 86% |
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UV
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- | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Time | 00:00 | 01:00 | 04:00 | 07:00 | 10:00 | 13:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 | 22:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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40% | <5% | <5% | <5% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
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9°
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9°
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9°
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10°
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12°
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12°
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11°
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10°
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9°
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7° | 7° | 7° | 8° | 10° | 10° | 9° | 8° | 7° |
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ESE
9
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E
9
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ESE
10
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ESE
10
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ESE
12
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ESE
12
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ESE
13
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ESE
11
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ESE
11
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17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 15 |
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VG | G | VG | VG | VG | G | G | M | M |
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Humidity
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87% | 87% | 85% | 84% | 81% | 86% | 88% | 92% | 95% |
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UV
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- | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - |
| Time | 01:00 | 04:00 | 07:00 | 10:00 | 13:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 | 22:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | <5% | 10% | 10% |
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9°
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9°
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10°
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12°
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13°
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13°
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12°
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11°
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7° | 7° | 8° | 10° | 12° | 12° | 11° | 10° |
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SE
9
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SE
8
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SE
8
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S
8
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S
9
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SSW
10
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SSW
8
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S
6
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13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 9 |
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G | G | G | G | VG | VG | VG | G |
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Humidity
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95% | 95% | 92% | 87% | 80% | 80% | 84% | 90% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - |
| Time | 01:00 | 04:00 | 07:00 | 10:00 | 13:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 | 22:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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10% | 20% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | <5% |
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10°
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10°
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10°
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11°
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13°
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13°
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12°
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10°
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9° | 9° | 9° | 10° | 11° | 11° | 10° | 8° |
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SW
6
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SSW
6
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ENE
7
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ESE
8
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ESE
8
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ESE
11
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SE
9
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SE
8
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9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 12 |
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M | P | M | G | G | VG | G | G |
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Humidity
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92% | 95% | 93% | 87% | 82% | 79% | 84% | 92% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - |
| Time | 01:00 | 04:00 | 07:00 | 10:00 | 13:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 | 22:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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<5% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
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9°
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9°
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9°
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11°
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12°
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11°
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10°
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9°
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7° | 7° | 8° | 10° | 9° | 8° | 8° | 6° |
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SSE
9
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SSE
9
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SSE
9
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SW
9
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WSW
12
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W
14
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WNW
14
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WNW
11
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13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 15 |
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G | G | M | G | G | VG | VG | VG |
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Humidity
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95% | 95% | 93% | 84% | 82% | 81% | 80% | 85% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - |
| Time | 01:00 | 04:00 | 07:00 | 10:00 | 13:00 | 16:00 | 19:00 | 22:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
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8°
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8°
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9°
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10°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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10°
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6° | 6° | 7° | 8° | 9° | 9° | 8° | 8° |
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NW
10
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NW
9
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W
8
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NNW
9
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SSW
11
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NE
12
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SSW
12
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SSW
10
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14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
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VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | G |
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Humidity
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88% | 85% | 81% | 74% | 71% | 73% | 78% | 86% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - |
Our weather symbols tell you the weather conditions for any given hour in the day or night. This means that the symbol for 9am shows you what you will see from 9am to 10am.
Chance of precipitation represents how likely it is that rain (or other types of precipitation, such as sleet, snow, hail or drizzle) will fall from the sky at a certain time.
This number shows the air temperature for the time period. You can see the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit by using the dropdown menu.
Feels like temperature considers other factors, such as wind speed and humidity. This gives you a better idea of how the temperature will actually feel at the time.
Wind gust shows the highest wind speed that you should encounter at that time, as winds peak and lull.
Strong winds are shown in bold for speeds of 29 mph or more.
The arrow shows the direction the wind is blowing. The letters show the direction the wind is blowing from (on a standard 16-point compass).
The number represents the average wind speed expected at that time.
The arrow shows the direction of the wind (up is north). If the arrow points from land to sea, the wind will be blowing out to sea (‘offshore’). The number is the average wind speed.
Beware of offshore winds if you are using inflatables, paddle boards or kayaks. These winds can blow you out to sea. Read more about how wind will affect you at the beach.
Visibility measures the distance at which an object can be clearly seen.
| VP (Very Poor) | Less than 1 km |
| P (Poor) | 1.1 km to 4 km |
| M (Moderate) | 4.1 km to 10 km |
| G (Good) | 10.1 km to 20 km |
| VG (Very Good) | 20.1 km to 40 km |
| E (Excellent) | Greater than 40 km |
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. If there is a lot of water vapour, the humidity will be high. The higher the percentage of humidity, the wetter it will feel outside.
UV exposure index and the protection required to help keep you safe:
No risk of UV - It’s safe to stay outside. Low - You can safely stay outside. Consider sunscreen in direct sunlight. Moderate - Take care during midday hours and do not spend too much time in the sun unprotected. Sunscreen advised. High - Seek shade during midday hours, cover up and wear sunscreen. Very high - Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm. Shirt, sunscreen and hat are essential. Extreme - Avoid being outside during midday hours. Shirt, sunscreen and hat essential.
This is the average height of the waves, 1-2 miles out to sea. The height of the waves can vary. The individual waves out to sea or at the beach can be higher than this number. If you are close to the water, keep an eye on the waves to stop you or your belongings being swept away.
Read more about calculating the expected height of the waves at the beach.
This is the average number of seconds between one wave and the next, 1-2 miles out to sea. A long wave period (more than 10 seconds) means the waves at the beach may be more powerful. Lifeguards can give you advice on waves if you’re planning to go into the water.
Read more about the period of waves.
The arrow shows the average direction of the waves 1-2 miles out to sea. It indicates how sheltered the beach will be from these waves. If the arrow points towards land, most of the waves’ power will reach the beach. If the arrow is parallel to or pointing away from land, the wave height is likely to be lower on the beach than it is offshore.
Lifeguards can give you advice on waves if you’re planning to go into the water.
Forecast row information
UK video forecast
Orkney & Shetland weather forecast
Headline:
Dry. Warm sunny spells.
Today:
Any haar, most likely over Orkney, should soon clear to leave a dry and mainly bright day with some warm sunshine. Winds light or moderate form the east or northeast. Maximum temperature 17 °C.
Tonight:
Dry with mostly clear or sunny skies, but patchy low cloud and haar cannot be ruled out. Winds will be light from the east or northeast. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
Friday:
It should stay dry and mostly sunny or clear and feeling warm again, particularly on the west side of both Orkney and Shetland. Small chance of haar. Light northeast winds. Maximum temperature 17 °C.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Mainly dry and settled with bright or sunny spells. However, haar could become extensive at times, particularly through Saturday and early Sunday. Warm in any sunshine, light southeast winds.
Updated:
UK long range weather forecast
On Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, the weather details are still fairly uncertain, but overall it should be fairly warm with scattered showers. There is also a chance of cloudier conditions with rain spreading from the southwest for a time on Sunday. As we move into the new week, the chance of rain and showers reduces as high pressure builds to the east of the UK. This will bring dry and fine weather for most areas, although there is still a possibility of rain or showers in the west. Into the following week, high pressure is likely to remain dominant. Sunnier conditions are expected across the south, while it may be cloudier in the north and east. Temperatures are expected to be slightly above normal for early May.
Updated:
During the longer range outlook period, there is a greater chance of unsettled weather returning, especially across the south. This means that spells of wet weather are likely for most, notably across southern or central areas, while drier conditions on balance are more likely further north. There are no strong signs for any exceptional temperatures either above or below average, but warm days are possible as are some chilly nights.
Updated:
