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.)
Sunday'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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
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.
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
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
Sunday 27th September 2026
Last updated
Sat 26th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southerly winds up to gale-force on high terrain, including a swathe of particularly powerful winds and gusts moving across England & Wales during the day. Rain generally sets in from the west with some heavy falls, a band of more intense rain for a time. Cloud increasingly covering many hills.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales, rain sets in heavy, lowest cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40-60mph, powerful gusts in morning. Will lessen during afternoon and shift southwesterly 25-35mph, a relative lull then speeds rising a little toward dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions well into the day with significant wind chill. Effects will lessen later but remaining blustery.
How Wet?
Rain becomes persistent and heavy
Patchy rain Skye and west coast through morning, dry windows north and east, but a band of persistent rain arrives from the west, setting in more widely for several hours into afternoon with a swathe of torrential rain. Breaking up somewhat later.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy on tops, more extensive afternoon
Varied above 700m on and around Skye early, more broken north and east and may break up more briefly. A band of low cloud sweeps in from the west, bases as low as 400-500m west coast briefly, tending to break up again. Always highest bases near/north Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, to 20% for several hours
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun to start, becoming overcast, may later break in west. Very good visibility inland and east before cloud and rain arrive.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, may rise a degree Ben Wyvis and northward, later lowering to 5C. Feeling like 0 to -3C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 28th September 2026
Last updated
Sat 26th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest near the west coast and on Skye, tending to lessen in afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and affecting ease of walking and balance on exposed west coast ridges, some gusty spots; feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Showers mostly toward Skye
Showery rain most frequent on Skye and nearby coast up to Torridon, odd brief heavier moments. A few showers may graze west coasts further north at times. Often dry further inland, north and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly coastal mountains near Skye
Banks of cloud most persistent around Skye above 800m, some lower patches on southern slopes in rain. Capping higher slopes near west coast elsewhere at times, but breaks inland and east above 1000m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Skye, to 60% inland/east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy west coast and slight haze, some glimpses of sun. Occasional sun more often toward the east, where visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising 7C. Feeling like -2 to -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 29th September 2026
Last updated
Sat 26th Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 35 to 50mph, turbulent gusts downslope toward the northwest; speeds tend to rise during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions on exposed terrain, but sudden buffeting also to some lower elevations.
How Wet?
Possible rain later
Likely dry much of the day, but later pulses of rain may spread in from the south.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly on southern slopes
Some banks of cloud forming on southern slopes, particularly south Cuillin, locally too near the North Sea coast. Toward and north of Ullapool many hills may be clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun fairly weak through high cloud, may become mainly a thick veil of cloud. Visibility good, but increasingly hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, rising to 10C, increasingly humid; may rise slightly more by evening onward.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A changeable prospect during the week ahead. A better day on Monday as higher pressure expands in from the south, but showers and brisk winds continue toward northwest Scotland. Strong southeasterly winds by Tuesday, widely gales on mountains with turbulent downslope gusts toward the west; a risk of rain developing from the south during the day, becoming heavy later. Blustery south-southwesterlies into Wednesday and Thursday, showery in the west. Higher pressure tends to expand further north again into early October. Mostly mild temperatures.