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.)
Friday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 9th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force winds across all mountains will make walking challenging and lower temperatures also adds to a significant chill factor. A front clears south over England & Wales with a spell of early rain. Then broadly showery, frequent in west, falling as snow on Scottish Munros, also hail.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales on tops, frequent showers with hail, and snow on tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly sustained 35-40mph, very gusty, top speeds to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking, powerful gusts constantly challenging balance, sometimes requiring bracing. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day, with hail
Shower after shower streams in from the west, heavy bursts with hail, snow on tops above 900m, clustering into persistent falls. Chance of isolated lightning near west coast, mainly afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
High tops in cloud most or all day, base quite variable early, between 600-900m in and out of showers, but increasingly extensive above at least 700m and lowering in heavier rain, to as low as 400m along the west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun here and there. Visibility generally poor on high terrain, hazy to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 10th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 35 to 45mph, very gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with considerable buffeting, balance nearly always challenged. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain, some heavy, snow tops
A near-constant stream of showers from the northwest most or all day, some sleet/snow on high tops at times above 900m, and may well set in for several hours with heavy falls on western mountains.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud often down to 400-500m along the west coast, will vary, best chance of breaks approaching 800m or higher towards Ben Wyvis, but also lowering to at least middle slopes here and may widely fill in for several hours.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun east, more often overcast. Poor visibility, sometimes very poor on high tops in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, will vary in showers, locally down to 0C. Feeling like -10C or colder in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above highest summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 11th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-30mph from dawn into morning, easing to 10-15mph afternoon. Likely to increase southerly after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Early in day, considerable wind chill and blustery wind on tops may affect comfortable walking; becoming small.
How Wet?
Early showers fade
A few scattered showers in the morning, of snow above 900m. Fading to be largely dry into afternoon. Rain may push onto west coast into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most tops
Patchy cloud around higher slopes mostly above 800m by mid morning, lifting and dispersing more with time to leave most mountains free of cloud in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun; high cloud may start to build from west later. Visibility excellent away from early showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C much of day, then lifting slightly higher onward into evening-night. Feeling like -5 to -8C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Slight frost some inland glens at dawn. Close to highest summits near 1100m in the morning, then above all tops.
Planning Outlook
The weekend begins windy with gales over all mountains, severe on some high tops; showers or more constant rain west, brighter breaks east. Sunday sees a more settled day as a small ridge of high pressure builds from the west; wind eases, sun and cloud clearing most tops, cool temperatures. Next week sees continued mixed weather: bands of rain coming and going, temperatures similarly fluctuating: generally mild, briefly chilly in Scotland with freezing levels temporarily onto high Munros where rain turns to snow; any accumulating snow soon thaws. West-southwesterly winds will be dominant, often quite strong, gales at times, but this allows for drier, brighter windows on eastern hill groups between weather systems.