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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 4th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 3rd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales over high terrain in all areas, severe on higher mountains making progress very challenging and feeling cold. Showery rain, most frequent in western Scotland, scattered heavy bursts passing eastward. Remnants of overnight rain soon clears from Wales to be more often dry, less windy southwards.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales, severe on tops. Frequent bursts of rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, turning westerly, 40 to 55mph, powerful gusts in showers, reaching sustained 60mph with stronger gusts over 70mph for a few hours particularly northern areas in middle of day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Any mobility at times challenging on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining west, heavy showery bursts
Rain on and off throughout the day, most frequent in the west where some steady rain for periods mixed with heavier showery bursts - a more organised cluster passing eastward in the morning, but further showers follow; small chance isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering tops, lowest west
Fairly persistent over all western mountains above 700m, lower banks at times near the coast and during rain. Well inland the cloud base higher and varying, some breaks above 800-900m, tending to rise a little into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, 40% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brief glimpses of sun eastern areas. Visibility often reduced by rain, locally good below cloud especially east; a general haze near the west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little change all day. Directly in the wind, feeling like -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 5th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 3rd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 35-45mph at dawn, strongest north, easing during morning to 20-25mph. Turning S'ly, rising into night to 50-70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and chilly start, more challenging just at first, but lessening to be fairly small. Deteriorating significantly into night.
How Wet?
A few showers
Showers mostly western mountains early in the day tending drift inland but becoming well scattered and light, fading with time. Into night, risk of sustained heavy rain developing from south.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to higher tops
Cloud banks drift over western hills above 700-800m in the morning, higher and well broken eastwards. Base rising mostly above 900m by middle of day, but patches may come and go into afternoon in west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly eastern areas, high cloud tending to develop late in day. Visibility very good inland, slight coastal haze in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7C afternoon, little change or rising a degree or so higher into night. Feeling like -5C in the wind early in day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 6th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 3rd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 50 to 65mph, powerful gusts through passes and on some downslopes to the north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions on exposed terrain walking and balance difficult in places. Feeling cool in exposure despite mild air.
How Wet?
Rain most of day
Rain rarely ceasing over western mountains around Skye and Torridon. Smaller amounts north and eastward, but often raining or drizzly. Streams in spate.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket low cloud across many mountains in the west, higher bases inland and northeastwards, local breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Hazy at best, poor visibility in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, humid all day, rising on some slopes to 14C; cooling into night. Feeling near to 0C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through the next week with spells of rain and showers moving in from the Atlantic, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. A window of better weather and less wind on Saturday, but further rain moves into Scotland from the southwest by Saturday night into Sunday, heaviest northwest Highlands; gales also return to many mountains by Sunday. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but cooler air moves in from the north at times next week bringing higher Scottish tops occasionally close to freezing point. Indications favour improving weather patterns during mid-month.