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.)
Wednesday'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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Wednesday 30th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 29th Sep 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Heavy rain sweeps northeast across England and Scotland through morning: persistent falls, locally torrential with risk thunder, particularly west Scotland early hours. Rain soon clears Wales, more widely by midday, bright skies follow, trending cooler and showers developing. Widely windy, gales in Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Early severe gales and heavy rain, afternoon sun, later showers
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 50-65mph to start, gusting 75mph over high tops, then a general 45-55mph the rest of the day, strongest sustained wind over the Cuillin.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance, mobility at times difficult, particularly early in the day. Significant wind chill despite mild temperatures.
How Wet?
Morning heavy rain, showers return later
A band of heavy rain arrives into Skye overnight, spreading northeast across the region into morning, local torrential falls with risk an odd flash of lightning. Rain will break up and clear away, largely dry for several afternoon hours, then showers return from the south.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud largely breaks off tops, lingering south/Skye
Extensive cloud over the hills in early rain, then lifting rapidly and clearing many hills, though patches linger on tops on and near Skye, bases briefly lowering towards 600-700m in later showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%, nearer 40% Skye
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly extensive sunshine breaking through as rain clears. Poor visibility in early rain, then improving, but west coast stays fairly hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 12C from dawn, or warmer towards northern hills. Will vary but generally dropping, to finish near a fresher 8 to 10C, staying mildest to the north. Feeling near/below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 1st October 2026
Last updated
Tue 29th Sep 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-35mph, least wind east where may variably lessen slightly. Strengthening overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking along the west coast, particularly Skye with a chilly feeling; sometimes fairly small east.
How Wet?
Showers south and west
Showers rather frequent on Skye, merging into sustained falls. Nearby hills see regular showers much of the day. Showers increasingly scattered north and eastward, only passing afternoon sprinkles Easter Ross.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting off most summits except Skye and nearby
The Cuillin and nearby hills shrouded from 600-700m up in the morning, banks over tops along the west coast to the north. Elsewhere, patchy banks over tops, which will increasingly break up. Many hills away from Skye clear afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Skye, rising to 70% elsewhere
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, increasingly widely to the north and east, high cloud building later. Very good visibility, a haze offshore to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C. Feeling like 0 to -3C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 2nd October 2026
Last updated
Tue 29th Sep 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph, sometimes quite gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure all day with a chilly feeling, some more strenuous moments in buffeting gusts and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Often raining
Several pulses of showery rain spread across most hills, persistent falls, sometimes heavy along the west coast. Rain may rarely cease on Skye. Least rainfall Ben Wyvis/Easter Ross.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, local variability
Cuillin in cloud to low slopes likely all day. West coast hills often shrouded above 500-600m, may break higher between pulses of showers. Highest breaks towards the east, though high breaks brief and Munro summits unlikely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few odd brighter glimpses, more often overcast, dull towards the west. Mostly poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, mildest Easter Ross. Feeling like 0 to -3C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Fresher, blustery south-southwesterlies from overnight Wednesday persist on Thursday: showery in the west early but trending drier and brighter widely. A new frontal system approaches late Thursday and overnight, then Friday will be a wetter day again; rain quite frequent with extensive cloud for many and quite blustery. On Saturday, higher pressure begins expanding from the south, increasingly settling the weather in England and Wales; temperatures generally mild, some cool nights when skies are clear, also sometimes feeling humid. The following week remains mixed, some settled windows in England and Wales with bright breaks east, but more often windy, particularly Scotland with periods of rain, the wind and rain expanding more widely at times.