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.)
Today'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.
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 8 to 12C 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.
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 8 to 12C 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
Friday 8th August 2025
Last updated
Thu 7th Aug 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force winds persist over higher terrain in Scotland. Rain and drizzle throughout the day toward the northwest, low cloud covering western mountains extensively; higher cloud bases eastwards. Cloud banks common on hills near the Irish Sea, clearer with more sun eastwards over England & Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales, severe high tops. Rain much of the day, low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 45 to 55mph, at times 60mph with stronger gusts over high tops, particularly coastal areas in west; tending to increase slightly further later in day, risk 70mph higher tops evening-night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking widely arduous from mid-heights upward. Forward progress and balance difficult on high terrain; you may be blown over in strong gusts. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, frequent west coasts
Rain on and off, frequent or persistent Skye and coastal slopes of Wester Ross, heavy bursts drifting north occasionally. Easing to drizzle for a time toward evening, then heavier rain returning into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest toward west
Widespread above 600m in west with lower banks along coastal slopes, notably south and west Skye. Bases slightly higher well inland with patchy breaks forming to 900m or higher, but highest tops unlikely to clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10% on/near Skye; 20% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun eastern hills; little sun expected near the west coast. Visibility limited by haze and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, rising only slightly well inland; little change on coastal slopes. Feeling like -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 9th August 2025
Last updated
Thu 7th Aug 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, up to 60mph on higher areas most likely during morning, northernmost tops may be stronger.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking over exposed terrain, balance difficult, gusts could knock you over in morning. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, wettest in west
Heavy overnight rain clears south around dawn, but showery rain follows throughout the daytime, risk frequent rain continuing around Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some rise of base
Shrouding the mountains widely early morning, to lower elevations in west around Skye. Cloud base lifting, some breaks above 800m mostly inland/east, but often covering western tops all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mostly east. Hazy, visibility reduced further during rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C. Feeling like -5 to -8C in wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 10th August 2025
Last updated
Thu 7th Aug 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph for a few hours from dawn, easing a little 20-25mph, turning southwesterly; by evening 40-45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and feeling cold early in day, lessening through middle of day, but into evening likely to deteriorate.
How Wet?
Drizzle west, rain later
Drizzly showers on and off near west coast for a few hours, mostly morning, fading. Toward evening, likely more persistent rain moving in from southwest, heavier from dusk into night, soonest Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest west, some breaks afternoon
Cloud banks fairly persistent on west coastal mountains in the morning, to some mid-slopes. Cloud more broken inland and north, but patches often capping tops. Some breaks forming afternoon, then cloud lowering evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west coast, 40% inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly eastern areas. Misty morning around west coast hills, visibility good below cloud elsewhere.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, rising a little inland afternoon, and slightly warmer onward into evening. Feeling below freezing in wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A mixed southwesterly weather pattern prevails. Often windy, especially Scotland. Fronts coming in from the Atlantic bringing periods of rain most frequently in west and northwest Scotland. Small amounts of rain reaching eastern Scotland, more often dry. Patchier and less frequent rain for western England and Wales - higher pressure building for periods to give drier and warmer weather here. Low cloud often shrouding western tops, sometimes to lower elevations near coasts, higher cloud bases eastwards with better breaks.