Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) weather
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Forecast days
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Today. Maximum daytime temperature: 15 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 11 degrees Celsius. Heavy rain. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Today. Maximum daytime temperature: 15 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 11 degrees Celsius. Heavy rain. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Thursday 9 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 12 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Overcast changing to drizzle by nighttime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Thursday 9 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 12 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 9 degrees Celsius. Overcast changing to drizzle by nighttime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Friday 10 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 16 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Friday 10 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 16 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Saturday 11 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 17 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 11 degrees Celsius. Cloudy changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Saturday 11 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 17 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 11 degrees Celsius. Cloudy changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Sunday 12 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 15 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.Sunday 12 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 15 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate; Pollution: Low; Pollen: Low.
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Monday 13 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;Monday 13 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;
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Tuesday 14 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy changing to sunny intervals in the afternoon. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;Tuesday 14 May. Maximum daytime temperature: 13 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: 10 degrees Celsius. Cloudy changing to sunny intervals in the afternoon. Sunrise: ; Sunset: . UV: Moderate;
Seven day forecast for Kirkwall
| Time | 16:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 21:00 | 22:00 | 23:00 |
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| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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40% | 90% | 90% | 90% | ≥95% | ≥95% | ≥95% | 20% |
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13°
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13°
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12°
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12°
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11°
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12°
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12°
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12°
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11° | 11° | 10° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 9° |
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S
11
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SSW
11
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SSW
12
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SSW
14
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SSW
12
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SW
14
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SW
15
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SW
14
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21 | 18 | 24 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
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VG | G | G | G | M | M | M | E |
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Humidity
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77% | 77% | 88% | 90% | 94% | 92% | 92% | 90% |
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UV
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2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 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 |
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| Weather symbols |
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Chance of precipitation
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20% | 70% | 50% | 50% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 30% | 20% | 20% | 50% | 40% | 60% | 30% |
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12°
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12°
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12°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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11°
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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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10°
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10°
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10°
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10°
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9° | 9° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 10° | 10° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 8° |
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SW
16
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WSW
17
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WSW
18
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WSW
18
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WSW
19
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W
18
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W
17
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W
14
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W
15
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W
14
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W
13
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WNW
11
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NNW
9
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NNW
8
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N
6
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NE
7
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NE
7
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ENE
7
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ESE
7
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SE
8
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SSE
7
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SSE
7
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S
7
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S
8
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29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 |
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VG | G | VG | VG | VG | M | P | M | M | M | P | M | M | M | M | G | M | G | M | M | M | P | P | P |
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Humidity
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89% | 89% | 91% | 91% | 95% | 97% | 97% | 97% | 97% | 96% | 96% | 95% | 94% | 93% | 92% | 92% | 92% | 92% | 93% | 93% | 94% | 95% | 95% | 96% |
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UV
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- | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 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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30% | 30% | 40% | 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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15°
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16°
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15°
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12°
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8° | 8° | 9° | 9° | 12° | 13° | 15° | 14° | 11° |
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S
8
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S
8
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S
6
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S
7
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S
9
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S
11
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S
9
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S
6
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SE
6
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12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
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P | P | M | M | G | VG | G | G | M |
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Humidity
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96% | 97% | 97% | 96% | 86% | 77% | 75% | 80% | 90% |
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UV
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- | - | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 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% | <5% | 10% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% | <5% |
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11°
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10°
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12°
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16°
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17°
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17°
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15°
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13°
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10° | 9° | 11° | 15° | 16° | 16° | 14° | 11° |
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SSE
6
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S
6
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S
6
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S
8
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SSE
10
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SE
10
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SSE
9
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SE
9
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8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
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G | G | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG |
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Humidity
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92% | 92% | 84% | 74% | 71% | 70% | 76% | 85% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 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% | <5% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
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12°
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11°
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12°
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15°
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15°
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15°
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13°
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11°
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10° | 9° | 10° | 12° | 13° | 12° | 10° | 9° |
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SSE
10
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SSE
11
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SSE
12
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SSE
14
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SSE
16
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SSE
16
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SSE
16
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SSE
15
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14 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 21 |
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VG | G | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG | G |
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Humidity
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88% | 89% | 86% | 79% | 77% | 77% | 83% | 89% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 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% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
|
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11°
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11°
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11°
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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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8° | 8° | 9° | 10° | 10° | 10° | 9° | 8° |
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SSE
15
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SSE
14
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SSE
14
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E
16
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SE
17
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ENE
17
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ENE
17
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ENE
16
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22 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
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G | G | G | G | VG | VG | VG | G |
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Humidity
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90% | 91% | 88% | 83% | 79% | 79% | 82% | 87% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 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% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
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11°
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11°
|
11°
|
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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8° | 8° | 8° | 9° | 10° | 10° | 9° | 8° |
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ENE
15
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SE
15
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NNE
15
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SE
16
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ESE
17
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SE
17
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NE
17
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NE
16
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21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
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G | G | G | VG | VG | VG | VG | VG |
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Humidity
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89% | 88% | 87% | 82% | 77% | 79% | 81% | 84% |
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UV
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- | - | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | - |
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:
Rain spreading east later this afternoon.
Today:
Most of the day will be dry, chance of some low cloud at times. Freshening southerly winds will bring rain from the west from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 13 °C.
Tonight:
This evening will be cloudy with rain. Remaining cloudy overnight with further rain and drizzle at times, although northern Shetland may dry up later. Misty low cloud. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
Thursday:
Orkney will be dull with misty low cloud and drizzle. Damp start across Shetland but brighter and dry weather will spread from the north by afternoon. Maximum temperature 12 °C.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Orkney becoming dry and bright on Friday, Shetland misty with some rain. Dry with some hazy sunshine over the weekend, and becoming warm.
Updated:
UK long range weather forecast
The weather is expected to change from the current warm and settled conditions, and return to an unsettled and showery pattern. Rain and showers, perhaps heavy and thundery, are expected across much of the country. Rainfall amounts could be above average in many areas, especially where showers merge and become slow moving. Winds could fresh at times, especially near heavier showers and along coasts. Temperatures will not be as high as the previous week, and are expected to fall closer to average for May. Where it remains damp and cloudy it will feel much cooler than of late. However where there are any breaks in the cloud, and where winds fall light, it will feel warm in any sunny spells.
Updated:
For the end of May and the start of June, it will probably start off fairly unsettled with rain or showers for many, but also some sunny spells between, and slightly-above average temperatures. Through the period there are some tentative signs that conditions could become a little more settled in the south and east, with rain perhaps more confined to the north and west. As we head into late spring and early summer, it will naturally feel warm in any sunshine, especially when winds fall light.
Updated:
