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
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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
Monday 11th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 10th May 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold northerly breezes, but a bright day with broken cloud lifting above the mountains and some sun. Scattered showers with snow flurries on hills. A band of showers moves south over Wales in the morning. Later in the day, westerly winds increase and cloud thickens in western Scotland with drizzly rain arriving.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold, isolated flurries. Later windier, drizzly rain, low cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 15-20mph, occasionally less; turning westerly, tending to increase to 30-35mph into evening hours, stronger up to dusk, 40mph with stronger gusts into night.
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, deteriorating further after sunset.
How Wet?
Brief snow flurries fade; rain by evening
Local snow flurries over the hills early in the day, but fading to be largely dry for much of day. Toward evening, drizzly rain arrives in west, preceded by snow flurries on tops, steadier rain develops up to dusk, some heavier in west into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches lifting, lowering in evening west
Patchy cloud banks over higher slopes in morning, but lifting above most tops. During evening, cloud lowering from west onto coastal tops, tending to fill in near the coast up to dusk, banks extending inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, dropping to 20% west up to dusk.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun in morning, giving way to thickening high cloud from west afternoon. Visibility excellent, then reducing up to sunset from west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C at first, rising to +1 or 2C afternoon, or slightly milder into night. Feeling colder as wind increases.
Freezing Level
600m around dawn, or lower north/east, gradually rising, toward 1000-1100m afternoon, then lifting further above tops onward into night.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 12th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 10th May 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 45mph, squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting across the hills, challenging walking at times in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and snow on tops
Frequent showers, mostly toward west early in day, but soon more widely; some heavy bursts, snow falling at times to 700m, also hail to lower slopes. Risk of isolated thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on tops, lifting higher with breaks
Cloud frequently changing, covering tops above 800m for periods, but tending to rise higher in afternoon, with time only occasionally capping tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun. Visibility often very good, but intermittently very poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind on tops..
Freezing Level
900 to 1100m, highest toward Great Glen afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 13th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 10th May 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 25 to 30mph, strongest toward Skye, risk increasing all western hills later toward 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill, very blustery, may become more challenging in exposure over west coastal mountains.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and hill snow
Showers mostly coastal mountains in north and west early morning, but becoming widespread, heavy bursts with hail, risk isolated thunder; snow often falling on the Munros, at times down to 600-700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying quickly over high terrain
Cloud frequently changing over the tops, often capping windward higher slopes in the west and north above 800-900m, ragged patches to 600m in showers; occasionally breaking above higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun and intermittently excellent visibility, but suddenly appalling where in cloud, snow or hail.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 2C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, nearer -15C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
900m early morning, rising toward or just above highest summits into afternoon, but lowering slightly in showers.
Planning Outlook
Notably chilly for mid-May across the hills this week as air from the north-northwest prevails. Frequently near or below freezing over Scottish Munros, and at times dropping to freezing on high tops in England and Wales. Wind speed will vary, but increasing at times to gale force on hills, giving significant chill factor. Broadly showery, heavy bursts with hail and thunder in places, also often falling as snow on higher mountains, at least in Scotland, intermittently elsewhere. Some more persistent precipitation especially northwest Scotland. Also some drier windows - varying locally day-to-day - away from showers cloud will lift above hills and visibility will be very good. Less windy and fewer showers suggested by next weekend into early next week.