Orkney Islands Weather in May

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

🔎
Orphir Stromness Burray Village Evie

Planning a getaway to the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in the Orkney Islands in May

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

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 11°C (52°F) and nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) in Orphir.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Kirkwall with an average of 57 mm (2.2 in) to moderate rainfall in Stromness with 62 mm (2.4 in). Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Orphir typically sees the least rain in this month, making it the driest month of the year.

Average sunshine

May brings good sunshine to many areas. Orphir sees around 192 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

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)

January9°C (48°F) February8°C (46°F) March8°C (46°F) April9°C (48°F) May11°C (52°F) June12°C (54°F) This monthJuly14°C (57°F) August15°C (59°F) September14°C (57°F) October13°C (55°F) November11°C (52°F) December9°C (48°F)
Best Time to Visit the Orkney Islands →

Best Places to Visit in the Orkney Islands in May

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 May for some of the most popular destinations in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in the Orkney Islands (May)

Precipitation variation in the Orkney Islands (May)

Orphir

In May Orphir generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
192 hours
149 hours
Monthly rainfall
69 mm (2.7 in)
60 mm (2.4 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
mixed
mixed
Climate in Orphir →

Stromness

In May Stromness generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
192 hours
149 hours
Monthly rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
mixed
mixed
Climate in Stromness →

Burray Village

In May Burray Village generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
192 hours
149 hours
Monthly rainfall
65 mm (2.6 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
mixed
mixed
Climate in Burray Village →

Evie

In May Evie generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
192 hours
149 hours
Monthly rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
mixed
Climate in Evie →

Kirkwall

In May Kirkwall generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
139 hours
192 hours
149 hours
Monthly rainfall
66 mm (2.6 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
mixed
Climate in Kirkwall →

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

Popular cities in May

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Orphir 11°C (52°F) 8°C (46°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Stromness 11°C (52°F) 8°C (46°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Burray Village 11°C (52°F) 8°C (46°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Evie 10°C (50°F) 8°C (46°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Kirkwall 10°C (50°F) 8°C (46°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Orkney 11°C (52°F) 8°C (46°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)

The Orkney Islands weather in May: frequently asked questions

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

the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom typically experiences mixed weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in Orphir average around 11°C (52°F), and temperatures drop to about 8°C (46°F) at night.

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

Daytime temperatures in Orphir peak at roughly 11°C (52°F) in May, dropping to about 8°C (46°F) overnight.

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

May is on the drier side in the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom. Orphir averages only about 60 mm (2.4 in), with most days staying dry.

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

In our opinion, May may not be the ideal time to visit the Orkney Islands, the United Kingdom due to the typically mixed weather in Orphir.

Generally speaking, July and August provide good weather in Orphir. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, October, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

Hike the South West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path means breathtaking nature, kind people and delicious food everywhere you go. It is an unforgettable experience and you need to add it to your bucket list.
Welcome to Totnes, the hidden treasure of South Devon

Totnes is a place where historical richness fuses effortlessly with a vibrant alternative culture and breathtaking natural surroundings. The town pulses with an amazing community spirit that you'll feel around every corner.

London's coolest neighborhoods you'll want to visit

Discover the 6 coolest neighborhoods in London for your trip! Explore vibrant Shoreditch, lively Soho, alternative Camden, and many more.
10 cities you should definitely visit in the UK

Discover the top 10 most fun and alternative cities in the UK, rich in art, culture, and adventure. Explore vibrant neighborhoods and unique places.
Must visit in the United Kingdom →