Kirkwall Sunshine Hours by Month

In climate discussions, the hours of sunlight reveal much about a location. This page shows the total number of hours of direct sunlight per month and the average hours per day in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom. This average is based on long-term data collected between 1990 and 2020.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Sunshine in Kirkwall varies greatly throughout the year. The sunniest month, May, reaches an impressive 192 hours, while December, the darkest month, offers only 26 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 1181 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

Seasonal changes in sunshine hours are quite obvious in Kirkwall. While May receives considerable daily sunshine with up to 6.4 hours, December marks the darkest time of the year, where sunshine is scarce with only 0.9 hours of sunlight per day.

Kirkwall enjoys an average of 1181 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

In Lisbon, Portugal, there are approximately 2801 hours of sunshine annually, highlighting its warm and sunny Mediterranean climate.

In contrast, Reykjavík, Iceland, receives only about 1330 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

In Chicago, USA, the annual sunshine averages 2520 hours, contributing to its humid continental climate.

Melbourne, Australia, has 2380 hours of sunshine annually, with its famous “four seasons in a day” weather pattern.

November, Kirkwall’s wettest month, receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 11°C (52°F). During the driest month May you can expect a temperature of 10°C (50°F).

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Kirkwall Precipitation page.