Orkney & Shetland weather

Headline:

Gales, severe later over Shetland. Mainly dry, but rain later.

Today:

Most of the day will be dry and quite bright with some hazy sunshine. However it will be very windy with gale force south to southwesterly winds, increasing severe gale across Shetland. Some heavy rain will arrive late afternoon. Maximum temperature 9 °C.

Tonight:

Cloud and heavy rain soon clearing to a mixture of clear intervals and showers, these turning wintry, though any lying snow confined to hills. Winds veering westerly, easing for time. Minimum temperature 1 °C.

Thursday:

Frequent blustery showers and bright or sunny intervals accompanied by strong to gale force west or southwersterly winds. Becoming drier towards evening with winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Outbreaks of rain Friday morning, becoming drier and brighter in the afternoon, gales. Cloudy but mainly dry on Saturday and Sunday, breezy. Mild throughout..

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Feb 2023

Sunday and Monday will be mostly dry with variable and at times large amounts of cloud, with any fog patches clearing through the morning. Parts of the north and northwest of the UK will remain rather damp at times, with occasional light rain or drizzle. Over the following few days, probably a gradual transition to more generally changeable conditions, meaning a greater chance of some rain at times in the south and east compared to earlier in February. The north and northwest will likely be most unsettled, with often strong winds accompanying periods of rain, which will be heavy at times. Temperatures overall will be relatively mild, with any frost mostly likely across southern areas earlier in the period.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Feb 2023

Generally changeable weather conditions with near or above average temperatures across the UK as a whole until late February. Bands of rain and strong winds are expected, especially in the northwest, with a risk of some wintry showers in the intervening colder brighter interludes between these frontal systems. Some of these frontal systems perhaps spreading further to the southeast, although much of the south and southeast will likely be relatively drier. Confidence in the forecast around the turn of the month becomes much lower, and whilst the more likely scenario is one of a continuation of similar conditions experienced through the latter half of February, there is a low probability of some much colder weather developing.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Feb 2023