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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 15th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 14th May 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Remaining cold, near to freezing all day on higher tops. Strongest northwesterly winds in the morning and toward eastern Scotland giving significant chill factor. A scattering of mostly brief showers with snow and hail, less intense than recent days. Cloud lifting above many summits, occasional sun.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold strong winds easing. Brief showers with snow & hail.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 30 to 35mph from dawn, briefly 40mph easternmost hills at first. Easing to 25mph through middle of day day, then 20mph or less later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous start with significant wind chill and buffeting, but hour by hour easing down, still blustery into afternoon, but becoming small later.
How Wet?
Scattered snow and hail showers
A scattering of mostly brief snow and hail showers through the day. Tending to fade during afternoon. Snow falling 500 to 800m, lowest in the morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, most frequent coastal hills
Banks of cloud over the tops in the morning, concentrated across hills from Skye up to Assynt and Ben Hope where may persist into afternoon, but tending to lift. Better breaks form inland as bases rise.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, best early morning inland, then improving west coast afternoon. Visibility very good, briefly lowering in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C at dawn, lifting to -1 to +1C; lowest up toward Ben Hope. Feeling like -10 to -15C in early wind.
Freezing Level
700m at dawn, lifting to 800-1000m, staying lowest around Ben Hope.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 16th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 14th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable below 10mph at first. Becoming S-SW'ly 15 to 25mph, soonest on Skye; by evening westerly 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small early in day, becoming breezier, feeling noticeable and rather chilly on exposed higher terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops in west
Rare light showers near north coast at first, otherwise a dry morning. Patchy rain pushes onto west coast on and near Skye in afternoon, becoming more persistent later, heavier near Skye & Wester Ross, extending inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any, then forming in west
Patchy cloud around some slopes mostly near coast in morning, lifting and clearing. Some cloud banks forming onto higher slopes, soonest on Cuillin, extending further onto west coast hills later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, dropping to 30% west later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun weakens as high cloud thickens, more overcast afternoon. Visibility excellent, reducing later near Skye as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +3C afternoon. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
700m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Rising to be just above freezing to highest summits during afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 17th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 14th May 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, may reach 40mph at times on and near Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Making walking uncomfortable on exposed high terrain, affecting balance at times. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and showery bursts
Rain on and off all day, but a few hours in the morning drier in eastern areas. Increasing risk of heavier showery bursts forming, becoming concentrated inland then eastward later. Some snow on highest tops. Risk of hail & thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent west, some breaks
Often capping western hills above 600-700m in morning, patchier and higher cloud inland and eastwards. Bases tending to rise, then varying in and out of showers, at times breaking to higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some sun mostly east in morning. Visibility very good, but reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C rising to 3 or 4C afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -7 to -10C on tops.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing point on higher tops around 1000m early morning, rising above all summits into afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A shift toward west-southwesterly over the weekend brings a gradual rise of temperature. A mixed weather story with some rain and lowering cloud moving in from the west into Saturday afternoon. By Sunday and Monday, some showery rain, passing eastwards during the daytimes, generally improving afternoons in western areas. Risk by later Monday of rain moving into Wales from the southwest. Damp south-southwesterlies then prevail for a few days next week, with rain at times Tuesday and Wednesday, most on western hills, particularly Scotland. A drier and warmer theme later in the week as higher pressure builds.