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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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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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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Thursday 4th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 3rd Jun 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and showers in Scotland, showers heaviest east afternoon with risk of thunder. Light wind early, increasingly blustery from south. Persistent rain and windy south Scotland and Lakeland/N Pennines. Very windy Peak District and Wales too, gales later, morning rain and afternoon showers.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Rain and showers, risk afternoon thunder east
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less at dawn, soon shifting westerly and slowly strengthening, 10-15mph by midday, strongest south. Finishing 20-25mph, strongest south, perhaps 30mph over the Cuillin.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small for most of the morning, wind increasingly impacting ease of walking through afternoon, walking may become impeded in the south late in the day.
How Wet?
Rain and showers, best dry windows early; risk lightning east
Slow moving showery rain through the morning, some local dry spots, but drizzle forming on the high tops and showers forming, moving east through afternoon. Showers increasingly heavy afternoon, a risk of lightning particularly from Ben Wyvis towards Caithness. The day finishes with more persistent rain west.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, variable, notably deteriorating from west later
Covering the higher mountains likely all day, but varying in extent and height, some ragged patches from forest canopies up during and after rain. Base rising afternoon, some breaks in east if between showers, but these brief and above 900m likely stays in cloud. Cloud fills in to at least middle slopes from later afternoon on west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy, some glimpses of sun here and there, some broader sunny areas north in the early morning. Visibility often very poor due to rain and fog, but variably very good during dry windows.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, rising to 7C Ben Wyvis to hills east of Ullapool. Notable drop later overnight hours.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 5th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 3rd Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph early, gusting 45-50mph early north. Easing from late morning, turning southwesterly 25-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over summits at dawn, strongest wind knocking you off balance with significant wind chill. Easing trend.
How Wet?
Morning rain soon patchy, dry windows
A band of rain moves north through morning, heaviest extended falls west coast. This rain largely clears northward by midday, patchy rain follows in the west, only odd spots east, dry windows too.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits, often broken east
Fairly extensive at dawn, bases widely to 600m and lower west. A lifting and breaking trend from the south through morning, to likely just banks coming and going over the tops, always most often west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%, to 80% east Munros
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C at dawn, rising to 6C Ben Wyvis and Ben Hope; 5C or less elsewhere. Feeling like -7C in strongest early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 6th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 3rd Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
S-SE'ly, later SW'ly, high uncertainty of extent of stronger winds - likely in range 25 to 40mph, but risk 50-60mph for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Beware of changing conditions and monitor subsequent forecasts - risk of being difficult at least part of the day.
How Wet?
Risk of rain developing from southwest
Possibly substantially dry conditions for a good part of the day, especially more inland and northern areas, but risk of patchy rain moving in from west around Skye, timing uncertain, may become persistent and widespread rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering especially around Skye
Cloud banks may cover the Cuillin from early in day, patchy on the nearby mainland and further north/east may start clearer and stay well broken for longer. Cloud likely lowers and fills in to low-mid slopes near Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% Skye, to 60% far north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak due to high cloud, mainly north; more likely becoming overcast. Visibility very good where dry, but reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7 or 8C afternoon, then lowering into night. Feeling below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Friday sees a slight settling trend compared to recent days with sunny spells in east Scotland as well as England and Wales, some patchy showers. Unsettled again over the weekend, as southwesterly flow draws several areas of rain across the country, best of dry slopes to the northeast. Showers affect most hills Monday and Tuesday, lowest cloud and most persistent rain along western slopes, but with some breaks as well with sunshine. Wednesday is likely more unsettled as gales spread across most tops and heavy rain drives into northwest England and Scotland. Conditions settling into the weekend as high pressure builds from the south. Low cloud will gradually dissipate for increased sun. Scotland slower to settle, some cloud and drizzly rain lingering in the west.