Orkney Islands Weather in March

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

Considering a trip to the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom this March and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in the Orkney Islands in March

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

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 8°C (46°F) and nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) in Orphir.

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

Precipitation

In March, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Burray Village with an average of 88 mm (3.5 in) to moderate rainfall in Stromness with 98 mm (3.9 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Orphir receives about 101 hours of sunlight in March, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

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 March

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 March for some of the most popular destinations in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in the Orkney Islands (March)

Precipitation variation in the Orkney Islands (March)

Orphir

In March Orphir generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
61 hours
101 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
112 mm (4.4 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
22 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Stromness

In March Stromness generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
61 hours
101 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
116 mm (4.6 in)
98 mm (3.9 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
22 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Burray Village

In March Burray Village generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
61 hours
101 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
102 mm (4 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
65 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
22 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Evie

In March Evie generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
61 hours
101 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
113 mm (4.4 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
23 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Kirkwall

In March Kirkwall generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

February
March
April
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
61 hours
101 hours
139 hours
Monthly rainfall
109 mm (4.3 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
22 days
18 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in March

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Orphir 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Stromness 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)
Burray Village 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Evie 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Kirkwall 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Orkney 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)

The Orkney Islands weather in March: frequently asked questions

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

March in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom brings poor weather. In Orphir, daytime temperatures are typically around 8°C (46°F) and nighttime lows hover near 5°C (41°F).

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

In Orphir, the average daytime high in March is 8°C (46°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 5°C (41°F).

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

March is on the drier side in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom. Orphir averages only about 95 mm (3.7 in), with most days staying dry.

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

In our view, March might not be the best time to travel to the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom with often poor weather in Orphir.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in July and August offering mostly 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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