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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 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
Friday 12th September 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Sep 25 at
2:50PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Buffeting south-westerly winds will bring a chill across the mountains with showers; these most frequent in the west, well scattered elsewhere. Some heavy and possible hail and thunder. Cloud frequent on western tops, clearer in the east.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Showers, frequent west coast where hill fog widely. Risk thunder. Windy and chilly.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph during daytime. At or before dawn, 40-45mph northern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, affecting balance on tops and ridges. More widely challenging early and late. Feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Heavy showers, often raining Skye
Frequent showers along west coast near Torridon, periods of constant rain Skye. Drier start inland, then increasingly showery for several hours afternoon, at times merging into broader areas of rain with hail/thundery periods.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent near Skye, some breaks inland
Extensive on Skye and nearby from middle slopes up. Similarly low bases but more broken further north, some higher bases well inland. Some breaks to inland tops for a time, cloud returns more extensively around showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% inland, 10% west coast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine well inland, clouding over at times. Little or no sun west coast. Good visibility for a time inland, deteriorating as showers arrive.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C. Feeling like -5C or cooler in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 13th September 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Sep 25 at
2:50PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South turning southwesterly, speeds varied 20 to 30mph, at times 35mph, but a few hours of lower speeds middle of day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery winds for periods, affecting ease of walking and balance in exposure; smaller for a time. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, some heavy
Clusters of showery rain, most frequent over coastal mountains near Skye. Some heavy bursts, risk of hail and thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Most frequent west and Skye
Often covering higher western mountains, cloud base changing quickly in and out of showers. Some breaks toward tops mainly far north and eastern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun, most in north/east. Visibility very good where dry, but reduced to poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C. Feeling like -5C directly in the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 14th September 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Sep 25 at
2:50PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-westerly, backing south to south-easterly, 10 to 20mph, lifting to 30-35mph by dusk when increasingly turbulent.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small for several hours, but will likely become arduous later in the day with considerable buffeting and chill.
How Wet?
May be dry for several hours
Likely dry through the morning, and perhaps until dusk toward Ben Hope and Wyvis, but rain moving into Skye and southern mainland hills by mid afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy coverage Skye/southern hills.
Patches of banks over higher tops Skye and over into southern hills of mainland. Later more extensive in rain. Elsewhere, good breaks, bar ragged patches.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, but lowering to 40% Skye/south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, turning hazy as high cloud moves in, later overcast especially in south. Visibility very good, poor in rain in south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C lifting to 7C
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Unsettled southwesterlies dominate through the weekend into early next week - often windy with frequent rain, cloud capping the tops. Showery bursts at times with a risk of hail and thunder. Driest and highest cloud bases toward eastern Scotland. Temperatures on the cool side, often feeling below freezing in exposure to wind on higher terrain. During Sunday and into Monday, a deeper Atlantic low is expected to move in, bringing more extensive heavy rain and gales - the strongest wind probably focused on England & Wales. Some improvement expected for a time into middle of next week, but the longer range outlook into late September remains unsettled.