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.)
Thursday'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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 4 to 8C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 4 to 8C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 21st August 2025
Last updated
Wed 20th Aug 25 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rather cool, but a generally fine day. Light winds for the Highlands; breezier for England & Wales, particularly in the morning. Cloud locally thick enough for drizzle early morning, but lifting above most summits, some sun increasingly breaking through. Sunnier overall for Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cool, but mostly light wind. Cloud clearing many tops, some sun.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeast 10 to 20mph at dawn, strongest down the west coast. Tending to drop and become variable 5-10mph or less, later west to northwesterly 10mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked chill at first in the wind, but becoming small.
How Wet?
Dry, bar local spots of drizzle in cloud.
Scope for some spots of drizzle from the areas of low cloud as they drift south, mainly in the morning across northern and eastern areas, briefly a light shower.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied cloud, but tending to lift off hills.
Cloud drifting south in morning, covering tops above 700-900m. Bases will lift and break up, with hills likely to clear, but slow to clear some coastal tops where patches may come and go on summits into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% lifting to 80% afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy morning, before sun breaks through more frequently. Visibility mostly very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C at dawn (feeling sub-zero in wind), lifting to 7 to 10C in the afternoon, but still only 6C Ben Hope.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but chilly start, with heavy dew for inland glens.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 22nd August 2025
Last updated
Wed 20th Aug 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly or variable 10 to 15mph, or often less for inland mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Rain unlikely
Scope for an isolated light shower. Otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied banks, may linger northern tops
Patches or banks of cloud, mid to upper slopes; cloud top initially around 1000-1200m, high summits start just above this cloud. Tending to lift upslope to tops and then break, but may linger tops toward west coast and in north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40 to 70%, highest well inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, especially well inland. May be hazy due to the presence of upper cloud. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C lifting to 6 to 9C, highest in the south.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but slight ground frost some inland glens.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 23rd August 2025
Last updated
Wed 20th Aug 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction 5 to 10mph. May become southeasterly 10-15mph on Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Little or no rain
Spots of rain from high cloud layers, possibly locally steadier light rain for a time, chance of a brief heavier shower, but many places may well stay largely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little, risk cloud banks Skye
Fragments of cloud around some slopes and patchy mist some glens at first. Local cloud banks capping higher slopes if rain occurs, but many hills often clear. Cloud may be more common on Cuillin.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun and varied high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 9C from dawn, coldest north/east. Rising to 11 to 13C afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Slight frost possible sheltered glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
High pressure persists into the weekend, maintaining substantially dry weather, though expect variable amounts of cloud, covering some hills for periods. A weak front encroaching from the west may give a little rain to western Scotland on Saturday. Light variable winds for the next few days, then southeasterly winds increasing Sunday, soonest for western regions, risk becoming much windier by Monday in west, then more widely with time. Low pressure is expected to move closer to the British Isles into the middle of next week, with a greater risk of showery rain. A more unsettled pattern toward the change of month is increasingly likely.