Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle are having a wild Tuesday. There are also minor flooding concerns
The Northern Isles are generally quite windy. There aren’t that many trees on Orkney and any growing are stunted and leaning to one side away from the W SW prevailing winds. I remember the lack of trees which just smoothes the wind’s uninterrupted path. http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/woodland/index.asp?pageid=2525 The October mean wind speed is just under 16 knots (18mph) and so a moderate breeze is the norm. Shetland has the unofficial highest ever wind speed at 154 knots in 1962 (177mph). Today the sea area Fair Isle has warnings of Storm Force 10 with very rough or high seas.
This week Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle have Easterly gales as the wet and windy weather, which much of the UK saw on Monday, has settled over the far north of Scotland. Tuesday will see heavy rain and persistent rain. After a settled September, this will be a real change. Mainland Shetland had average rainfall but in the north Unst, Yell and Fetlar all saw below average amounts, especially Unst. Orkney also saw a dry September. As wet October continues, the heaviest rain will ease off this evening, although it will stay damp into tomorrow morning
Along with this heavy rain, SEPA have coastal flood alerts in place. There will be high tides, strong winds blowing extra water up against the coast and spray. At this stage the period of greatest risk is high tide on Tuesday evening. approximately 9:00pm Orkney. High tides at Lerwick will be at approximately 11:00pm on Tuesday. Information from http://floodline.sepa.org.uk/floodupdates
There have been disruptions and cancellations on the ferries today, do check with http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/ as usual.
Lerwick has already see a gust of 57kt (66mph), Fair Isle 64kt (74mph). The mean winds are forecast to stay at gale force into the night
even severe gale force at times during the day. Tomorrow, Wednesday will be back to a moderate breeze.
