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.)
Monday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 6th October 2025
Last updated
Sun 5th Oct 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales widespread across mountains in Scotland and on higher tops in northern England, severe toward north and especially northwestern Highlands. Rain, drizzle and low cloud shrouding hills widely in west, better eastwards. Heavier rain later west Scotland. Marked wind chill despite mild air.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales, severe higher terrain. Drizzly and low cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty southwesterly 50 to 60mph. Powerful downslope gusts on north and east aspects, up to 70mph northern areas. Speeds tending to rise further through dusk into the night to 80mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions all day, challenging walking even at mid-elevations. Gusts may blow you over if balance is at all insecure. Further deterioration later in day.
How Wet?
Drizzle, increasingly heavier rain
Near constant drizzle and light rain spots over the Cuillin and mountains near Torridon, frequently drizzly too in the north. Drier eastwards. In afternoon, steadier rain developing over western hills, heavier later in day. Very wet ground and rocks, streams in spate, some flooding in western areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket fog across the mountains, with banks down to coastal cliffs on the west coast. Higher bases near Ben Wyvis, though unlikely breaking above 700m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
No sunshine expected. Very poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, little change with height. Eastern slopes a degree warmer. Feeling below freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 7th October 2025
Last updated
Sun 5th Oct 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then westerly, gusty 40-50mph at first, likely easing to around 25mph. May tend to increase again later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varied, risk difficult for a few hours, then improving, but still expect blustery conditions on high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain then drier, later showers
Several hours of rain during the morning over western mountains, patchier further east. Rain likely to break up and fade to be drier for a time into middle of day, then showers follow from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent west, rising toward tops
Shrouding the mountains widely, to lower elevations in western areas during morning rain. Cloud base then rising to upper slopes, often capping western summits above 900-1000m, some breaks inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun emerging mainly afternoon, most common in east. Visibility poor in rain, then improving, but some haze persists near west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C up to dawn, but then dropping to be 4C most of day. Directly in the wind feeling near -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 8th October 2025
Last updated
Sun 5th Oct 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 35 to 50mph, likely strongest into the afternoon, risk reaching 60mph northernmost tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous or increasingly difficult walking conditions, balance challenging on exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain becomes more persistent west
Light showery rain in the morning, most frequent western mountains, merging into more persistent rain and drizzle with time. Smaller amounts reaching eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive, lowering
Covering western tops throughout the day, highest bases in the morning, some breaks above 900m inland and east, but lowering to become extensive with time. Filling in to increasingly lower slopes in west coastal areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% dropping below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun in morning, mainly in east. Visibility starts good, but some haze, becoming widely poor in western areas.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising during day to 6C. Feeling like -7 to -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
West-southwesterlies prevail - wet over western mountains early this week, particularly Scotland. Fast-flowing streams and further flooding expected. Dropping cooler on Tuesday-Wednesday, prepare for considerable chill factor in the stronger winds over Scottish mountains. Pressure is due to gradually rise from the south in the second half of the week, rain fading out and winds dropping lighter across many places to leave a more optimistic outlook into the weekend for most places - northwest Scotland may keep a prevailing westerly with more cloud and a stronger wind.