Kirkwall weather in January (Orkney Islands, United Kingdom)

What should you pack for a trip to Kirkwall in January? Discover if this is the best time for your journey with our detailed monthly weather breakdown.

Temperatures

In January, Kirkwall typically experiences low temperatures and high rainfall. Daytime temperatures hover around 9°C, while nights can cool down to about 5°C.

Precipitation

Kirkwall in January usually receives high rainfall, averaging around 119 mm for the month. Typically around 25 days days of rainfall are expected.

Average sunshine

This month sees fewer sunny days, with about 33 hours of sunshine, perfect for those who enjoy cooler temperatures.

If you're looking for dry conditions and comfortable temperatures, January may not be the ideal month to visit Kirkwall. July and August typically offer the most agreeable circumstances. On the other hand, January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December tend to be characterized by conditions that may not be as optimal.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Kirkwall climate page with graphs.

 

Kirkwall, monthly averages in January

Min Temperature 5°C  

Max Temperature 9°C  

Chance of Rain 82%  

Precipitation 119 mm  

Rainy days 25 days  

Sunshine 33 hours  

Percentage Sunshine  

Where to go in the United Kingdom in January

Find out more about the weather in the United Kingdom and which places have the best travel conditions in this month.

Weather conditions Weather

Temperatures

Precipitation

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Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in this month?

Wear a base layer in cold weather; this is the #1 thing you can do to increase your overall body temperature.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do.

Swimming

4/10

Cycling

4/10

Walking

4/10

Camping

3/10

Outdoor sports

4/10

Interested in more climate information?

This site provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Kirkwall.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to the United Kingdom? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in the United Kingdom. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.