Climate Insights for Orkney

The climate in Orkney is cold. The average annual temperature is -10°C and approximately 59mm of precipitation falls per year. January is the wettest month, receiving around 8mm of rainfall. Orkney is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed: summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: January, February, March. The coldest months are March, June, May, when temperatures can drop to -12°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 59cm accumulating over the season.

Orkney has relatively stable temperatures year-round, staying within a 5°C range. January is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at -7°C with a mean of -8°C. The coldest month is March, when overnight lows fall to -12°C and the daily average is -10°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 1°C between highs and lows.

Orkney is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 59mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 5mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 8mm of rainfall. December and November also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is September, with just 3mm. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the first half (January to June) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 59cm accumulating over the season. January typically sees the most snow at around 8cm.

Orkney is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 5km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 8km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in March, with average winds dropping to 3km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 5km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans.

It is currently winter in Orkney, which began on June 21, 2026. Orkney is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed: spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in January at around -7°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in March near -12°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (16 days from now).

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Orkney based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.