Last updated: May 6, 2024
Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification Kirkwall features a oceanic climate (Cfb).Temperatures typically range between 6 °C (43 °F) and 13 °C (56 °F) through the year, but rarely can drop to -1 °C (31 °F) or can rise to as high as 17 °C (63 °F).The average annual precipitation amounts to about 1132 mm (44.6 inches) and receives 206 rainy days on the 1 mm (0.04 inches) threshold annually.Kirkwall enjoys an average of 3034 hours of sunshine throughout the year, and daylight varies from 6 hours 17 minutes to 18 hours 20 minutes per day.
The warmest months in Kirkwall are July, August and September, with daily mean temperatures ranging from 12 to 13 °C (54 - 56 °F) throughout the day. The coldest temperatures usually occur in January, February and March, when daily mean temperatures range from 6 to 6 °C (43 - 44 °F) throughout the day. On average each year, Kirkwall experiences 0 days above 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 0 days below 0 °C (32.0 °F).
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum | 12°C (53°F) | 11°C (51°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 11°C (53°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 14°C (58°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 11°C (52°F) |
Mean maximum | 10°C (50°F) | 9°C (49°F) | 9°C (49°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 11°C (53°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 15°C (60°F) | 15°C (60°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 12°C (55°F) | 11°C (52°F) |
Average high | 7°C (46°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 12°C (53°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 8°C (47°F) |
Daily mean | 6°C (44°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 7°C (44°F) | 8°C (47°F) | 11°C (51°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 11°C (51°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 7°C (45°F) |
Average low | 6°C (42°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 5°C (42°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 12°C (53°F) | 12°C (55°F) | 12°C (53°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 7°C (44°F) |
Mean minimum | 3°C (37°F) | 2°C (35°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 8°C (47°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 9°C (49°F) | 7°C (44°F) | 5°C (40°F) | 4°C (39°F) |
Minimum | 2°C (36°F) | 0°C (33°F) | -1°C (31°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 9°C (49°F) | 10°C (51°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 5°C (42°F) | 3°C (38°F) | 3°C (37°F) |
Compare temperature, precipitation, sunshine, UV index in Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom with other places around the world.
Kirkwall usually has the most precipitation in September, October and November, with an average of 22 rainy days and 141 mm (5.6 inches) of precipitation per month.The driest months in Kirkwall are April, May and June. On average, 54 mm (2.1 inches) of precipitation falls during these months.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 91 (3.6) | 99 (3.9) | 104 (4.1) | 51 (2.0) | 55 (2.2) | 55 (2.2) | 70 (2.8) | 72 (2.8) | 125 (4.9) | 163 (6.4) | 136 (5.4) | 111 (4.4) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 16 | 18 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 21 |
The sunniest months in Kirkwall are May, June and July, when the sun shines an average of 13 hours 33 minutes a day.Least sunny months in Kirkwall: January, November and December receive an average of 2 hours 25 minutes of sunshine daily.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 54 | 141 | 204 | 337 | 406 | 428 | 412 | 384 | 287 | 208 | 94 | 74 |
Mean daily daylight hours | 7h 3m | 9h 16m | 11h 52m | 14h 31m | 16h 57m | 18h 20m | 17h 35m | 15h 20m | 12h 45m | 10h 8m | 7h 41m | 6h 17m |
Kirkwall experiences the highest level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in June, July and August, when the maximum UV index can reach values of 5 - 7, which corresponds to the Moderate / High category of sun exposure.January, February and November are in the Low exposure category. In these months, the maximum values of the UV index do not exceed 1. For more detailed information, check out our hourly Kirkwall UV Index data.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UV Index (month maximum) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |