The Northwest Highlands
Areas north from Knoydart in the west, and the Great Glen towards the east (NB. Does not include Mull and areas west of Loch Linnhe, these are found in the West Highlands forecast.)
Today's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Sunshine and showers
A mixed weather day, with rain on and off, briefly heavy, but mixed with periods of sunshine.
Poor visibility
Very murky conditions, the mountains shrouded in fog, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Mild
Air temperature above freezing to highest summits. May feel pleasantly warm on lower ground, but take appropriate layers. Feeling chilly if exposed to wind.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Sunshine and showers
A mixed weather day, with rain on and off, briefly heavy, but mixed with periods of sunshine.
Poor visibility
Very murky conditions, the mountains shrouded in fog, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Mild
Air temperature above freezing to highest summits. May feel pleasantly warm on lower ground, but take appropriate layers. Feeling chilly if exposed to wind.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 5th May 2024
Last updated
Sat 4th May 24 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A slack weather pattern with light winds and fairly humid air. A lot of cloud around the mountains with patchy drizzle in the morning. Cloud lifting and breaking a little into the afternoon, but local thundery downpours will form, greatest risk for the Cairngorms area. Some rain moves into Wales from the south.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Light winds, varied cloud. Local thundery showers inland/east.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable or becoming westerly toward west coast 5-10mph, at times calm inland. In and around showers, risk sudden gusts 25mph in east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Drizzle, then local heavy showers, risk a thunderstorm east.
Pockets of drizzle from dawn into the morning. By afternoon, localised heavy showers forming, mainly inland, localised thunderstorms, greatest risk eastern areas Great Glen to around Ben Wyvis. West coast then more likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, local breaks as bases slowly rise.
Within a humid environment, expect extensive hill fog through the day. Lowest cloud bases in morning, before slow rise into afternoon with local breaks. Ragged patches returning around showers, mainly eastern hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare sunny glimpses, but locally sunnier for west coasts into afternoon. Hazy, and for periods in the morning murky. Best visibility coasts afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C, warmest inland towards and into afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 6th May 2024
Last updated
Sat 4th May 24 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Light and variable 5-10mph, but northerly down west coast 15mph. Risk local gusts 25mph inland around heavy showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Patchy rain, then heavy showers inland.
Patches of rain here and there in morning, but some areas dry. Then slow-moving scattered heavy showers forming, risk local thunderstorms inland areas in afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, best breaks coast afternoon.
Extensive banks of low cloud, shrouding hills from lower slopes up in morning. Slow rise in bases, with the best breaks developing for coastal hills afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast with rare glimpses of sun. May become sunnier coasts afternoon. Hazy, with rather murky conditions, may improve to become good away from rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 7th May 2024
Last updated
Sat 4th May 24 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Mostly variable 5-10mph or less. Possibly northerly 15-20mph at first.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Mostly dry
Local pockets of drizzle early in the day fading. Small risk of an isolated shower forming into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to tops
Banks of cloud at various heights in the morning, patchy fog in some glens. Will lift toward higher slopes with some breaks forming, increasingly clearing many tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, sun best near west coast in afternoon. Misty in places early in the day, visibility becoming good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C Ben Hope area, elsewhere 3C rising to 6C.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing around 1000m toward north in the morning, otherwise above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Weather patterns remain slow-moving, but high pressure tends to build into midweek to bring a fair amount of dry weather which may well last through next weekend. Briefly cooler in northern Scotland early in the week, but mostly fairly warm and winds often light. Some rain-bearing fronts may return to northwestern Scotland at times. Occasional scattered showers in the afternoons elsewhere.