Orkney weather in March
In March, Orkney sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 68 mm of rain across 10.8 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.
Highs ease over the month, from about 28°C in the first days to 26°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time in March, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 12 h 36 min at the start of March to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Orkney's 8th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Orkney's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 27°
- 6th warmest
- Overnight low
- 15°
- 9th coldest
- Rainfall
- 68 mm
- 10.8 wet days
- Daylight
- 12 h 12 min
- 6:17 AM – 6:29 PM
- Cloud cover
- 41%
- 8th clearest
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- 10th windiest
- Solar energy
- 5.76 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 6.5
- out of 10
Orkney is town in North West province, South Africa.
- Founded
- 1940
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in March
Highs ease over the month, from about 28°C in the first days to 26°C by the end.
A typical March day in Orkney reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 12°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 1°C cooler than February and about 3°C warmer than April.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Avg low (°C) | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | 17 |
| 2 | 28 | 17 |
| 3 | 28 | 16 |
| 4 | 28 | 16 |
| 5 | 28 | 16 |
| 6 | 28 | 16 |
| 7 | 28 | 16 |
| 8 | 28 | 16 |
| 9 | 28 | 16 |
| 10 | 28 | 16 |
| 11 | 28 | 16 |
| 12 | 28 | 16 |
| 13 | 28 | 16 |
| 14 | 28 | 16 |
| 15 | 28 | 16 |
| 16 | 28 | 16 |
| 17 | 27 | 15 |
| 18 | 27 | 15 |
| 19 | 27 | 15 |
| 20 | 27 | 15 |
| 21 | 27 | 15 |
| 22 | 27 | 15 |
| 23 | 27 | 15 |
| 24 | 27 | 15 |
| 25 | 27 | 15 |
| 26 | 27 | 15 |
| 27 | 27 | 14 |
| 28 | 27 | 14 |
| 29 | 26 | 14 |
| 30 | 26 | 14 |
| 31 | 26 | 14 |
How March really feels in Orkney
Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
March sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Orkney weather by month
How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 6th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29° / 18° | 97 | 14.4 | 13.5 | 4.9 |
| Feb | 29° / 17° | 77 | 12.3 | 13 | 5.4 |
| Mar | 27° / 15° | 68 | 10.8 | 12.2 | 6.5 |
| Apr | 25° / 12° | 40 | 6.9 | 11.4 | 7.8 |
| May | 23° / 7° | 19 | 3.1 | 10.7 | 8.6 |
| Jun | 20° / 3° | 10 | 1.5 | 10.3 | 8.3 |
| Jul | 20° / 3° | 5 | 0.9 | 10.5 | 8.5 |
| Aug | 23° / 6° | 12 | 1.7 | 11 | 9.0 |
| Sep | 27° / 10° | 15 | 3 | 11.8 | 8.3 |
| Oct | 28° / 14° | 60 | 9.4 | 12.6 | 6.4 |
| Nov | 29° / 15° | 73 | 11.3 | 13.3 | 5.5 |
| Dec | 30° / 17° | 99 | 14.9 | 13.7 | 4.8 |
Cloud cover in March
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time in March.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 24% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 23%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 76 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 75 |
| Cloudier (%) | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 | 24 |
| 2 | 77 | 23 |
| 3 | 77 | 23 |
| 4 | 78 | 22 |
| 5 | 78 | 22 |
| 6 | 78 | 22 |
| 7 | 78 | 22 |
| 8 | 78 | 22 |
| 9 | 78 | 22 |
| 10 | 78 | 22 |
| 11 | 77 | 23 |
| 12 | 77 | 23 |
| 13 | 77 | 23 |
| 14 | 77 | 23 |
| 15 | 76 | 24 |
| 16 | 76 | 24 |
| 17 | 76 | 24 |
| 18 | 76 | 24 |
| 19 | 75 | 25 |
| 20 | 75 | 25 |
| 21 | 76 | 24 |
| 22 | 76 | 24 |
| 23 | 76 | 24 |
| 24 | 76 | 24 |
| 25 | 76 | 24 |
| 26 | 76 | 24 |
| 27 | 76 | 24 |
| 28 | 76 | 24 |
| 29 | 76 | 24 |
| 30 | 76 | 24 |
| 31 | 75 | 25 |
Chance of precipitation in March
Orkney gets around 68 mm of rain over 10.8 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 36% and peaks near 40% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 40 | 39 | 39 | 38 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 40 |
| 2 | 39 |
| 3 | 39 |
| 4 | 38 |
| 5 | 38 |
| 6 | 37 |
| 7 | 37 |
| 8 | 37 |
| 9 | 36 |
| 10 | 36 |
| 11 | 36 |
| 12 | 37 |
| 13 | 37 |
| 14 | 37 |
| 15 | 37 |
| 16 | 37 |
| 17 | 38 |
| 18 | 37 |
| 19 | 37 |
| 20 | 37 |
| 21 | 36 |
| 22 | 35 |
| 23 | 35 |
| 24 | 34 |
| 25 | 33 |
| 26 | 32 |
| 27 | 32 |
| 28 | 31 |
| 29 | 30 |
| 30 | 29 |
| 31 | 29 |
Humidity in March
Most of March feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, March lands in the dry band about 43% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 32 | 33 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 39 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 47 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 60 |
| Comfortable (%) | 38 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 44 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 43 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 36 | 35 | 33 |
| Humid (%) | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Muggy (%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | Muggy (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32 | 38 | 29 | 1 |
| 2 | 33 | 39 | 28 | 1 |
| 3 | 34 | 39 | 26 | 1 |
| 4 | 36 | 39 | 25 | 1 |
| 5 | 37 | 39 | 24 | 1 |
| 6 | 37 | 39 | 22 | 1 |
| 7 | 38 | 39 | 21 | 1 |
| 8 | 39 | 40 | 21 | 1 |
| 9 | 39 | 40 | 20 | 1 |
| 10 | 40 | 40 | 19 | 1 |
| 11 | 40 | 41 | 18 | 1 |
| 12 | 40 | 42 | 17 | 1 |
| 13 | 40 | 42 | 17 | 1 |
| 14 | 40 | 43 | 16 | 1 |
| 15 | 40 | 44 | 16 | 1 |
| 16 | 40 | 44 | 15 | 1 |
| 17 | 40 | 45 | 14 | 1 |
| 18 | 41 | 45 | 14 | 1 |
| 19 | 41 | 45 | 14 | 1 |
| 20 | 42 | 44 | 13 | 0 |
| 21 | 43 | 44 | 13 | 0 |
| 22 | 44 | 43 | 12 | 0 |
| 23 | 45 | 43 | 11 | 0 |
| 24 | 47 | 42 | 11 | 0 |
| 25 | 48 | 41 | 10 | 0 |
| 26 | 50 | 40 | 10 | 0 |
| 27 | 52 | 39 | 9 | 0 |
| 28 | 54 | 38 | 8 | 0 |
| 29 | 56 | 36 | 8 | 0 |
| 30 | 58 | 35 | 7 | 0 |
| 31 | 60 | 33 | 7 | 0 |
Wind in March
Winds average 9 km/h in March.
Across March, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | calm |
| 2 | 9 | calm |
| 3 | 9 | calm |
| 4 | 9 | calm |
| 5 | 9 | calm |
| 6 | 9 | calm |
| 7 | 9 | calm |
| 8 | 9 | calm |
| 9 | 9 | calm |
| 10 | 9 | calm |
| 11 | 9 | calm |
| 12 | 9 | calm |
| 13 | 9 | calm |
| 14 | 9 | calm |
| 15 | 9 | calm |
| 16 | 9 | calm |
| 17 | 9 | calm |
| 18 | 9 | calm |
| 19 | 9 | calm |
| 20 | 9 | calm |
| 21 | 9 | calm |
| 22 | 9 | calm |
| 23 | 9 | calm |
| 24 | 9 | calm |
| 25 | 9 | calm |
| 26 | 9 | calm |
| 27 | 9 | calm |
| 28 | 9 | calm |
| 29 | 9 | calm |
| 30 | 9 | calm |
| 31 | 9 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in March
Daylight runs from about 12 h 36 min at the start of March to 11 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days shrink by about 48 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:09 AM to 6:25 AM, and sunset from 6:45 PM to 6:12 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 12.6 | 12.6 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 6:09 | 6:09 | 6:10 | 6:10 | 6:11 | 6:12 | 6:12 | 6:13 | 6:13 | 6:14 | 6:14 | 6:15 | 6:15 | 6:16 | 6:16 | 6:17 | 6:18 | 6:18 | 6:19 | 6:19 | 6:20 | 6:20 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:25 |
| Sunset (PM) | 6:45 | 6:44 | 6:43 | 6:42 | 6:41 | 6:40 | 6:39 | 6:38 | 6:36 | 6:35 | 6:34 | 6:33 | 6:32 | 6:31 | 6:30 | 6:29 | 6:28 | 6:27 | 6:26 | 6:24 | 6:23 | 6:22 | 6:21 | 6:20 | 6:19 | 6:18 | 6:16 | 6:15 | 6:14 | 6:13 | 6:12 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.6 | 6:09 | 6:45 |
| 2 | 12.6 | 6:09 | 6:44 |
| 3 | 12.5 | 6:10 | 6:43 |
| 4 | 12.5 | 6:10 | 6:42 |
| 5 | 12.5 | 6:11 | 6:41 |
| 6 | 12.5 | 6:12 | 6:40 |
| 7 | 12.4 | 6:12 | 6:39 |
| 8 | 12.4 | 6:13 | 6:38 |
| 9 | 12.4 | 6:13 | 6:36 |
| 10 | 12.4 | 6:14 | 6:35 |
| 11 | 12.3 | 6:14 | 6:34 |
| 12 | 12.3 | 6:15 | 6:33 |
| 13 | 12.3 | 6:15 | 6:32 |
| 14 | 12.3 | 6:16 | 6:31 |
| 15 | 12.2 | 6:16 | 6:30 |
| 16 | 12.2 | 6:17 | 6:29 |
| 17 | 12.2 | 6:18 | 6:28 |
| 18 | 12.1 | 6:18 | 6:27 |
| 19 | 12.1 | 6:19 | 6:26 |
| 20 | 12.1 | 6:19 | 6:24 |
| 21 | 12.1 | 6:20 | 6:23 |
| 22 | 12.0 | 6:20 | 6:22 |
| 23 | 12.0 | 6:21 | 6:21 |
| 24 | 12.0 | 6:21 | 6:20 |
| 25 | 12.0 | 6:22 | 6:19 |
| 26 | 11.9 | 6:22 | 6:18 |
| 27 | 11.9 | 6:23 | 6:16 |
| 28 | 11.9 | 6:23 | 6:15 |
| 29 | 11.8 | 6:24 | 6:14 |
| 30 | 11.8 | 6:24 | 6:13 |
| 31 | 11.8 | 6:25 | 6:12 |
Solar energy in March
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 5.76 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.84 kWh/m² to a high of 7.23 kWh/m² in December across the year — March's 5.76 kWh/m² falls in the middle.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Level | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 2 | 6.3 | Intense |
| 3 | 6.2 | Intense |
| 4 | 6.2 | Intense |
| 5 | 6.2 | Intense |
| 6 | 6.2 | Intense |
| 7 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 8 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 9 | 6.0 | Intense |
| 10 | 6.0 | Intense |
| 11 | 6.0 | Bright |
| 12 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 13 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 14 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 15 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 16 | 5.7 | Bright |
| 17 | 5.7 | Bright |
| 18 | 5.6 | Bright |
| 19 | 5.6 | Bright |
| 20 | 5.6 | Bright |
| 21 | 5.5 | Bright |
| 22 | 5.5 | Bright |
| 23 | 5.5 | Bright |
| 24 | 5.4 | Bright |
| 25 | 5.4 | Bright |
| 26 | 5.4 | Bright |
| 27 | 5.3 | Bright |
| 28 | 5.3 | Bright |
| 29 | 5.3 | Bright |
| 30 | 5.3 | Bright |
| 31 | 5.2 | Bright |
Hazard calendar for Orkney
In March, Orkney sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Orkney's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is March a good time to visit Orkney?
Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
March is a reasonable time to visit Orkney for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Orkney in March
From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In March, Orkney sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 15°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.
UV index in Orkney in March
Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Orkney peaks around January 13 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 5 (high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 15 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 9 | Very high |
| May | 6 | High |
| Jun | 5 | Moderate |
| Jul | 5 | High |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Air quality in Orkney in March
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Orkney is worst in June — around 57 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.6× the cleanest month (December, 12 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 14 | 19 | 26 | 34 | 48 | 57 | 56 | 45 | 38 | 26 | 15 | 12 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Moderate |
| Feb | 19 | Moderate |
| Mar | 26 | Moderate |
| Apr | 34 | Moderate |
| May | 48 | Poor |
| Jun | 57 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 56 | Unhealthy |
| Aug | 45 | Poor |
| Sep | 38 | Poor |
| Oct | 26 | Moderate |
| Nov | 15 | Moderate |
| Dec | 12 | Moderate |
Where is Orkney?
Orkney sits at 27.0°S, 26.7°E, 1,312 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Klerksdorp, 14 km away.
Topography around Orkney
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Orkney.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Orkney has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 51 m around an average of 1,299 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 133 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 445 m.
The land around Orkney is covered by grassland (55%) within 3 km, grassland (57%) and cropland (27%) within 16 km, and grassland (58%) and cropland (36%) within 80 km.
South Africa travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / M / N
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 41% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $6,598
- 2025
- Happiness
- 5.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 68%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 43.7
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 22.2
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very high
- EF EPI 602
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Orkney (-26.9802°, 26.6727°, elevation 1,312 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).