Kirkwall, Orkney Islands weather by month & the best time to visit
United Kingdom · seaside town · oceanic / maritime climate
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands is short on reliable sunshine. Its best month is August (Score 40/100) — for stronger sun, try one of the nearby alternatives.
When is the best time to visit Kirkwall, Orkney Islands?
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands never gets truly sunny weather: August is as good as it gets at 40/100, and January is the low point (0/100). If sunshine is the point of the trip, the nearby alternatives do better.
How sunny is Kirkwall, Orkney Islands?
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands isn't a sunny place by world standards: about 1,293 hours of sunshine a year. August (40/100) is noticeably better than January (0). It ranks #31 of 48 destinations in United Kingdom for annual sunshine, below the national median of 1,345 hours. The year's 1,108 mm of rain spreads fairly evenly across the months, with no pronounced dry season.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 7° / 45°F | 5° / 41°F | 115 mm | 0 | 8° / 46°F |
| February | 0 | 7° / 45°F | 5° / 41°F | 88 mm | 0 | 7° / 45°F |
| March | 0 | 7° / 45°F | 5° / 41°F | 83 mm | 1 | 7° / 45°F |
| April | 6 | 9° / 48°F | 6° / 43°F | 60 mm | 2 | 8° / 46°F |
| May | 12 | 10° / 50°F | 8° / 46°F | 66 mm | 3 | 10° / 50°F |
| June | 24 | 12° / 54°F | 10° / 50°F | 74 mm | 4 | 11° / 52°F |
| July | 35 | 14° / 57°F | 12° / 54°F | 82 mm | 4 | 13° / 55°F |
| August | 40 | 15° / 59°F | 12° / 54°F | 97 mm | 3 | 13° / 55°F |
| September | 34 | 14° / 57°F | 11° / 52°F | 98 mm | 2 | 13° / 55°F |
| October | 21 | 12° / 54°F | 9° / 48°F | 127 mm | 1 | 12° / 54°F |
| November | 5 | 9° / 48°F | 7° / 45°F | 109 mm | 0 | 11° / 52°F |
| December | 0 | 8° / 46°F | 6° / 43°F | 109 mm | 0 | 9° / 48°F |
Sea temperature in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands by month
The sea off Kirkwall, Orkney Islands is warmest in July at around 13°C / 55°F, and coolest in February at 7°C / 45°F. It never reaches comfortable swimming temperatures (21°C+). Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Kirkwall, Orkney Islands?
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands is a seaside town in United Kingdom with a oceanic / maritime climate — the sea reaches 13°C at its warmest.
How many hours of sunshine does Kirkwall, Orkney Islands get a year?
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands gets about 1,293 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around August.
When is the best time to visit Kirkwall, Orkney Islands?
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands is short on reliable sunshine — its best month is only August at 40/100. For a sunnier trip, see the nearest strong-sun alternatives listed on the page.
What is the least sunny month in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands?
January is the least sunny month in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, scoring 0/100 with about 115 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands?
The sea in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands ranges from about 7°C (February) to 13°C (July). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands?
The typical midday UV index in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands peaks around 4 (moderate) in June, easing to about 0 (low) in January. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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