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.)
Saturday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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
Saturday 9th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 8th May 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Chilly but largely dry with light winds for Highlands, broken cloud lifting above most tops, isolated showers / flurries. Greater chance of heavier showers south-central Highlands later. Grey and damp for the Pennines, fresh NE'ly winds. Localised heavy downpours near Peak District & mid-Wales later afternoon.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Near/below freezing all day high tops. Brief flurries, cloud rising.
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 15 to 20mph, nearer 25mph Ben Hope and some gustier spells on Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, some more blustery feeling areas toward far north and on Cuillin, feeling notably chilly.
How Wet?
Occasional flurries
Scattered brief light showers, mostly eastern hills by afternoon. Falling as snow flurries over hills, to mid-slopes or lower in the morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting, clearing many summits
Occasional patches of cloud on upper slopes in the morning, patches may come and go for a few hours above 700m in western areas, but tending to break and lift above many tops afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun, best near to west coast in afternoon. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C, local +2C near Great Glen afternoon. Feeling like -5 to -8C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m, lowest in north and in morning, lifting slightly afternoon, locally above 1000m toward Kintail. Also frost in sheltered glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 10th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 8th May 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly - speed varying during day, but reaching 30mph morning-middle of day, risk 40mph north, later turning N-NW'ly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill, risk more significant later. Walking becoming strenuous, affecting balance on ridges.
How Wet?
Showers, becoming wetter, later snow
Showers coming in from the northwest, falling as snow flurries on the Munros. With time becoming more frequent, merging into constant rain, then turns to snow showers to mid-heights in north late in day or evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering over western hills
Possibly clear to tops inland and east early in day. Patchy cloud over higher western slopes forming more widely in showers, tending to fill in and lower in steady rain over western mountains.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% dropping to 30%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun mostly toward east, becoming largely cloudy, increasingly overcast. Visibility starts excellent, reducing in precipitation, becoming poor in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2C, but into evening falling quickly from north toward -2C. Feeling much colder as wind increases.
Freezing Level
800m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Up to 1100m afternoon, but late in day risk a rapid drop from north to 600-700m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 11th May 2026
Last updated
Fri 8th May 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 15-20mph, occasionally less; turning westerly and tending to increase to 30-35mph later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for a time, but distinctly chilly over the mountains. Likely becoming more blustery, more strenuous walking later.
How Wet?
Snow flurries then rain
A few showers, snow flurries over the hills, early in day falling to some lower elevations. Becoming drizzly rain gradually up to higher slopes, steadier rain develops from the west into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Varied cloud banks over higher slopes, some breaks to tops inland and eastward for a time. Cloud tending to lower and fill in near west coast, more extensive across the hills as rain develops afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 20% west.
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun in morning, giving way to largely cloudy skies. Visibility very good where dry, but then becoming poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C at first, rising to +2C afternoon, or slightly milder by evening into night. Feeling colder as wind increases.
Freezing Level
600m or possibly lower around dawn, gradually rising, toward 1100m afternoon, then later in day lifting above many tops.
Planning Outlook
A chilly outlook into mid-May, with higher Scottish mountains staying near or often below freezing point as northwesterly air prevails. Higher tops in England and Wales also dropping intermittently to freezing point. Wind-speed varying day-to-day, but prepare for often considerable chill-factor on all mountains. Some frost overnight into valleys when skies are clear. Broadly showery weather over the next 10-day period, plus some fronts bringing persistent rain mostly to northwestern Scotland, often falling as snow on mountain tops, sometimes to below 600m. Drier intervals too, some days with fewer showers and broken cloud lifting above the summits, varying locally day-to-day.