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
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.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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.
Thunderstorms
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 25th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 24th Jun 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
An even hotter day across the mountains; sunny and humid - risk of sunburn and dehydration. Rain soon arrives into Northwest Highlands, thunderstorms afternoon, later stretching east and south. Moderate breezes, lightest early, strengthening into evening, walking becoming strenuous over high tops.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Afternoon thunderstorms; warm, humid, becoming murky
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly between 10 and 20mph; perhaps particularly gusty at times, particularly around thunderstorms where direction may be quite variable.
Effect of the wind on you?
Generally small, although there may be sudden buffeting at times both on higher areas and some lower slopes.
How Wet?
Rain spreads from the south, turning to thunderstorms later
An area of patchy rain soon moves into southern areas, pushing northward through morning; easternmost Munros only seeing spots of rain in the morning, if anything. Through afternoon, rain becomes more frequent and heavy (sooner Skye) with a rising risk of thunderstorms and extended torrential falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, more extensive in and after rain
Varied ragged patches early, more extensive along northern west coast hills. A period of more broken cloud with clear summits is likely, then rain brings fog to hills above 500-700m (chiefly near the coast far north). In thunderstorms, fog extensive, with patches forming from forest canopies upward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun through high level cloud. Mostly excellent visibility out of fog and rain, but a general deterioration with time as rain becomes more frequent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
13C rising to 15 or 16C south, but possibly only 13C coastal hills far north; little change with added height. Temperatures in the inland southern glens approaching the mid-20s.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 26th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 24th Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly trending southeasterly, 10-20mph, notably variable. Gusty around showers and downslope, later to 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
May often be fairly small, but notable buffeting gusts, and beginning to deteriorate later in the day.
How Wet?
Rising risk of thundery showers
Patchy showery rain, some heavy bursts with risk of thunder too. Through afternoon, rising risk of showers clustering together into prolonged thundery downpours. Northern hills may stay largely dry until later.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Mountains likely shrouded above 600-700m most of the day, some local higher breaks here and there, notably west coast later. Bases also to lower slopes around heaviest rain, and likely extensive to lower slopes in the early hours as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare glimpses of weak sun. Variable visibility, often poor due to cloud and rain, locally better.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12 or 13C may start slightly cooler north. Southwest hills/Skye rise to 15C afternoon, staying cool north. Very humid.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 27th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 24th Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, some uncertainty of peak speed, in range 35mph to possibly 50mph, at least in gusts, most sustained on Cuillin.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect strenuous walking conditions, more challenging in places with buffeting gusts knocking you off balance.
How Wet?
Bursts of rain, risk thunder
Some uncertainty, but clusters of heavy showery rain likely tracking northeastward. Drier moments mainly morning in north, but with time increasing risk of sudden downpours widely, thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, extensive around rain
Varied to fairly extensive cloud banks in the morning, to some lower slopes. Tending to lift with some breaks forming, but then filling in again around rain, ragged patches at varied heights from low levels up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional glimpses of sun. Some mistiness in morning. Visibility good for periods where dry, but poor around rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12 to 14C, small variation all day, then may lower into evening from west. Still rather humid. Feeling cooler directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Exceptionally warm and humid most mountain areas until later Friday; valley temperatures approaching the low-to-middle 30s in England and Wales, with hill temperatures approaching the mid-to-high 20s. Scotland will be slightly cooler, though temperatures will still reach the low 20s on many slopes. A risk of extended torrential thunderstorms on Friday afternoon in northern areas. Thunderstorms may continue in the north on Saturday as well, but progressively less warm as the weekend goes: fronts begin to come in off the Atlantic, bringing a strengthening wind and bands of rain and low cloud, particularly affecting western mountains. Into next week, Atlantic westerlies will dominate with mixed weather.