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.)
Today's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Thursday 7th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 6th May 26 at
4:26PM
Summary for all mountain areas
South to southwesterly winds giving considerable chill factor over high terrain, up to gale-force over coastal northwest Highlands. Areas of showery rain, most widespread into the afternoon when some clusters of heavier rain forming. Rain generally becomes more persistent toward northwest Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Increasingly gales western tops. Showers then frequent rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to 35mph, strengthening and trending southwesterly, sustained 40mph along the coast, stronger Skye, gusts reaching 50mph in exposure on Cuillin, in afternoon on western tops more widely, all areas evening-night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure, conditions increasingly strenuous, later arduous along the coast with significant wind chill and increasingly frequent buffeting gusts.
How Wet?
Showery rain, becoming frequent rain west
Showery rain from dawn, most often southern and west coastal areas, but a scattering of showers forming inland during morning and drifting northward. More frequent to persistent showery rain along the west coast with time into afternoon as a front encroaches in. Drier afternoon more eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly just summits with breaks; lowest more often Skye to Wester Ross coast
Banks above 800m in the morning, most extensive inland south of Ullapool. Most cloud lifting to at least the summits inland and north, some breaks above best inland and eastward, but banks returning to 800-900m and above from the west with time, fairly persistent near Skye as rain develops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, dropping to 20% Skye and nearby west coast in rain.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few glimpses of sun. Mixed visibility, often excellent but poor during rain, particularly west afternoon onward.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C, rising to 4C or locally 5C well inland and north. Falling to -1C into night. Feeling like -5 to -8C in strongest wind during daytime.
Freezing Level
1000m at dawn, or 900m inland, lifting to just highest summits or likely above. Then dropping into night to 800m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 8th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 6th May 26 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-40mph, strongest Ben Hope. Westerly trend, easing from the south, staying at least 30mph north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced, at least strenuous in the north with buffeting and notable wind chill. Some improvement.
How Wet?
Showers, may ease somewhat
Frequent showery rain through morning and perhaps into early afternoon; falling as sleet/snow on the highest tops. A chance of easing afternoon, some scattered west coastal showers later.
Cloud on the hills?
Early fog lifts, later just caps on west coast tops
Fairly extensive from dawn from 600m up, or lower slopes of the Cuillin. Lifting through morning to at least 800m, remaining lowest Skye, but also increasingly broken, summits breaks afternoon; cloud caps over coastal summits come and go.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 70% well-inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Soon a patchwork of cloud and sun, perhaps more often sunny afternoon. Variable visibility in showers, but becoming very good as showers ease.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, may briefly rise a degree eastern Munros; lowering afternoon towards 0C. Feeling like -10 to -13 in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above the summits at dawn, lowering to the high tops in the northwest, gradually more widely to 900-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 9th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 6th May 26 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 15 to 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Occasional flurries
Scattered brief light showers, mostly eastern hills by afternoon. Falling as snow flurries over hills, to mid-slopes or lower in the morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting, clearing many summits
Occasional patches of cloud on upper slopes in the morning, patches may come and go for a few hours in western areas, but tending to lift above many tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun, best near to west coast in afternoon. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m, lowest in north and in morning, lifting toward 1000m in south. Also frost in sheltered glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
A notably chilly outlook for May into the weekend and early next week, with higher Scottish mountains almost continuously below freezing point possibly onward through much of next week as northwesterly air prevails. After a warmer end to this week, higher tops in England and Wales also dropping intermittently to freezing point from the weekend onward. Wind-speed varying day-to-day, but prepare for often considerable chill-factor on all mountains. Some frost overnight into valleys when skies are clear. Broadly showery through mid-May, plus some fronts bringing persistent rain most common in northwestern Scotland, often falling as snow on mountain tops, sometimes to below 600m. Drier intervals too, some days with fewer showers and broken cloud lifting above the summits, varying locally day-to-day.