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.)
Friday's Forecast
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 5th June 2026
Last updated
Thu 4th Jun 26 at
3:49PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery start, gale-force gusts in N England and Scotland; easing. Chilly with showers in W Scotland, showers more widely over the highlands afternoon with sunny interludes. Early showers in England and Wales ease by afternoon, only well-scattered showers remain over Wales and S Pennines, plenty sun breaks.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Chilly and windy, easing; some showers west and south
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph early, gusting 45-50mph, this area of strong gusts soon passing northward. An easing trend from the south, towards 20-30mph through afternoon with a southwesterly shift, occasionally gusting 35mph over high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over summits at dawn, strongest wind knocking you off balance with significant wind chill. An easing trend, but walking probably remains strenuous on western tops.
How Wet?
Morning rain soon showery, dry windows too
A band of rain moves north through morning, heaviest extended falls west coast, but these relatively brief. This rain largely clears northward by midday, scattered showery rain follows in the west. Fewer showers reaching east, but a cluster of showers may drift across most southern Munros for several hours afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits, often broken east
Fairly extensive at dawn, bases widely to 600m, lower west during early rain. A lifting and breaking trend from the south through morning, to likely just banks coming and going from 900m upward, mostly west coast. The Cuillin see see less clearing, and later perhaps more cloud across southern high terrain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%, to 80% east Munros; 40% Skye
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun and cloud most of the day. Likely cloudier just at dawn, and some thin high cloud building through afternoon. Visibility largely very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C at dawn, rising to 6C Ben Wyvis and Ben Hope; 5C or less elsewhere. Feeling like -7C in strongest early wind, this effect easing somewhat.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 6th June 2026
Last updated
Thu 4th Jun 26 at
3:49PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
S-SE'ly, later SW'ly, high uncertainty of extent of stronger winds - likely in range 25 to 40mph, but risk 50-60mph for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Beware of changing conditions and monitor subsequent forecasts - risk of being difficult at least part of the day.
How Wet?
Risk of rain developing from southwest
Possibly substantially dry conditions for a good part of the day, especially more inland and northern areas, but risk of patchy rain moving in from west around Skye, timing uncertain, and may spread northward.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering especially around Skye
Cloud banks may cover Cuillin tops from morning, patchy on the nearby mainland and further north/east may start clearer and well broken for longer. Cloud likely lowers and fills in to low-mid slopes near Skye, up the west coast later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% Skye, to 60% far north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak due to high cloud, mainly north; more likely becoming overcast. Visibility very good where dry, but reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7 or 8C afternoon, least rise Skye, and may approach 9C Ben Hope. Feeling below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 7th June 2026
Last updated
Thu 4th Jun 26 at
3:49PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph, typically strongest near coast, sometimes 45-50mph gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking often arduous or challenging on high terrain, strongest gusts requiring bracing. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, may set in
Patches of rain drifting from the southwest throughout the day, most frequent Skye and nearby southern Munros, some heavy bursts too. More scattered northward, but a risk of becoming more frequent widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Best chance clear tops north
Cloud banks cling to the Cuillin above 600-800m most or all day. Inland and north, some early banks on high terrain, may lift to or above the summits and break up for several hours, but a risk of more cloud arriving from the south with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% north, to 20% Skye
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some weak sun through high cloud, increasingly weakened. Very good visibility inland and north, more often poor Skye.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, may rise a degree easternmost hills; notably cooling overnight. Feeling as cold as -8C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled over the weekend as southwesterly flow draws several areas of rain across the country, best of dry slopes to the northeast, and perhaps a drier Sunday for England and Wales through blustery, some uncertainty in detail. Generally unsettled next week too: showers affect most hills Monday and Tuesday, lowest cloud and most persistent rain along western slopes, but with some breaks as well with sunshine. Timing of most unsettled weather remains uncertain, but some risk of a deeper area of lower pressure from Wednesday or later brining widespread strong winds, probably gales over many summits, with prolonged heavy rain. Temperatures probably trending milder again into the weekend, pressure may begin to rise in the south, but this uncertain as well.






