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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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 23rd October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Prolonged heavy rain for south & eastern Scotland, increasingly snow over higher mountains. Patchier showery rain toward the west coast. Very variable wind for Scotland, but gales will be severe on Welsh mountains, heavy rain also persistent here. Rapid increase of wind over northern England into afternoon.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Wind increasing near Skye, patchy rain/snow, cloud banks.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Starting south-southeasterly 15-25mph, will vary and soon lessen, in places very little wind inland. Then later shifting west-northwesterly, reaching 25-30mph Skye in afternoon, but further north and east mostly 20mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but around Skye becoming more noticeably blustery and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and summit snow mostly southern areas
Dry start most places, some patchy rain moving onto Skye early in day, sleet and snow on highest summits, staying frequent with heavier moments. Rain and snow mostly above 800m tends to become more persistent toward Kintail and Great Glen, patchy falls extend northward, showery near west coast; far north may see very little.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly Skye and nearby tops, varied or very little northwards.
Cloud banks forming most extensively on and near Skye, lowering as precipitation develops, may envelop more hills on the mainland toward Great Glen with time. Varied patches northwards, but some northern mountains staying largely free of low cloud; forming increasingly near west coast northwards with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% Skye and lowering to 20% near Great Glen; but 60% far north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely overcast and dull, some brighter skies toward northeast particularly morning. Very good visibility where dry, but reducing in rain/snow to poor south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 2C to start, lowering to 0C. Feeling like -7 to -10C in direct wind mainly around Skye afternoon.
Freezing Level
Will vary around the high tops, dropping in heavier precipitation to 900m, slightly lower later in day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising rapidly from dawn to be soon 50mph, reaching 70-80mph+; marked increase with height.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, soon arduous walking on exposed terrain, significant wind chill; increasingly severe conditions.
How Wet?
Heavy rain soon sets in
Dry at dawn, for a few hours east, but soon patchy rain in west becomes persistent, briefly snow highest tops, then all rain, setting in widely heavy, continuing through afternoon. Showery into night, snow tops. Very wet underfoot, streams in spate.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering to become extensive
Initially most cloud above the hills, apart from odd patches at varied heights. Increasingly cloud will lower onto hills, forming to lower elevations coastal areas near Skye; some higher breaks remain in more north and eastern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% at first, dropping to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any weak sun at dawn soon gives way to overcast and increasingly dull conditions. Good visibility soon becomes hazy and then poor visibility as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C rising briefly up to 5C afternoon, then falling again to 1C into evening. Feeling around -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000m plus patchy frost some inland glens at dawn; rising above all summits during the morning; lowering evening-night.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 25th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 22nd Oct 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 60 to 80mph, gusts 90-100mph over higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions, mobility very difficult, repeatedly blowing you over; challenging even modest hills with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rarely ceasing rain, hail, upland snow
Near-constant precipitation, snow often falling above 800-900m, also hail at all elevations, mixed with rain. Prolonged heavier falls in some areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive over tops
Cloud base varying, often covering higher tops above 800-900m, some banks to 600m or lower at times in west, filling in for periods. Brief breaks higher up in east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief bursts of sun. A general haze at best, visibility often poor due to precipitation, to appalling if in snow and cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C. Wind chill feels like -15 to -20C in exposure.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1100m.
Planning Outlook
Stormy conditions widely across the mountains this weekend, peak wind speeds into Sunday over Scottish mountains with gusts 100mph on higher tops. Heavy rain will sweep in again from the west during Saturday, leaving showery conditions for Sunday, turning back to snow on higher terrain in Scotland. Very wet ground conditions, beware flooding of many streams and rivers making some routes impassable. A relative lull by early Monday in Scotland, but the next weather system soon sweeps in from the southwest with more heavy rain and extensive mountain gales, continuing into Tuesday. Mild south-southwesterlies mid-late week; smaller amounts of rain, some drier windows toward east and south.