Orkney Islands Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom in December.

Thinking about venturing to the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in the Orkney Islands in December

The Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in the Orkney Islands generally has cold temperatures, with high precipitation.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) in Orphir.

For a closer look at conditions across the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Burray Village with an average of 114 mm (4.5 in) to high rainfall in Orkney with 131 mm (5.2 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Orphir receives around 26 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore the Orkney Islands by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Orkney Islands — and find the best time to visit. (based on Orphir)

Best Places to Visit in the Orkney Islands in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across the Orkney Islands.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in the Orkney Islands

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in the Orkney Islands (December)

Precipitation variation in the Orkney Islands (December)

Orphir

In December Orphir generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
38 hours
26 hours
33 hours
Monthly rainfall
136 mm (5.4 in)
126 mm (5 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
25 days
Weather conditions

Stromness

In December Stromness generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
38 hours
26 hours
33 hours
Monthly rainfall
139 mm (5.5 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
127 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
24 days
Weather conditions

Burray Village

In December Burray Village generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
38 hours
26 hours
33 hours
Monthly rainfall
127 mm (5 in)
114 mm (4.5 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
24 days
Weather conditions

Evie

In December Evie generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
38 hours
26 hours
33 hours
Monthly rainfall
137 mm (5.4 in)
129 mm (5.1 in)
125 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
25 days
Weather conditions

Kirkwall

In December Kirkwall generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
38 hours
26 hours
33 hours
Monthly rainfall
135 mm (5.3 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
119 mm (4.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
25 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Orkney Islands, in the United Kingdom.

In our records: the United Kingdom December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in the United Kingdom in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in the United Kingdom was -10°C (14°F) in Glasgow on December 29, 1995.
  • From our sources, the wettest December day in the United Kingdom brought 301 mm (12 in) in Belfast on December 4, 1982.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Orkney Islands in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Orphir 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 126 mm (5 in)
Stromness 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Burray Village 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Evie 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Kirkwall 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Orkney 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)

The Orkney Islands weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom in December?

December in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom brings poor weather. In Orphir, daytime temperatures are typically around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime lows hover near 6°C (43°F).

What is the average temperature in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom in December?

In Orphir, the average daytime high in December is 9°C (48°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 6°C (43°F).

Does the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in December?

the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom sees substantial rainfall in December. Orphir typically averages about 126 mm (5 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Orphir, December may not be the ideal time to visit the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom.

On average, the best time to visit the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom is in July and August with generally tolerable weather in Orphir. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, April, October, November and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Orkney Islands.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United Kingdom? Get detailed 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.

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