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
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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 3rd September 2026
Last updated
Wed 2nd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong to gale-force winds over high terrain. A lot of cloud, shrouding all western hills, plus patchy rain and drizzle, becoming heavier persistent falls in the west later; a swathe of more intense rain develops for southwest Scotland into northwest England by evening, later into north Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales on tops; damp and cloudy, some heavier rain at times.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly between 35 to 50mph, will vary somewhat, tops speeds approach 55mph, more sustained later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure most of the day, some more challenging moments with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, showery for a time
Patchy rain drifts from the west much of the day, generally light and eastern hills often dry. Rain will become more frequent with heavy falls for a few hours in west during afternoon and onward to evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent west coast; higher towards inland summits, breaks east
Fairly extensive along west coast to start, varied banks inland, mostly high terrain; bases rising, increasingly above 800m, high tops from Ben Wyvis northward see some breaks to tops. Skye stays in cloud above 700-800m, and more widely lowering for a few hours.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west coast near Skye, to 60% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, sometimes more cloud around. Good visibility under cloud, but hazy particularly along the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 4th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 2nd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, turning westerly, 40 to 55mph, powerful gusts over 60mph in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining west
Rain on and off throughout the day, most frequent in the west where some steady rain for periods mixed with heavier showery bursts, may break up a little into afternoon. Patchier rain furthest east.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, lower west
Fairly persistent over all western mountains above 500-700m, lowest near the coast and during rain. Well inland the cloud base higher, some breaks above 800-900m, tending to rise a little into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% west, 30% 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
Wed 2nd 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.
Planning Outlook
A series of weather systems moves in from the Atlantic over the next 10 days to bring spells of rain and showers, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. A window of better weather is likely on Saturday for Scotland and northern England, but further rain is expected to move in from the southwest by Saturday night and Sunday, heaviest western Scotland; a risk of more powerful upland gales developing over Scotland into Sunday. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but some cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops close to freezing point.