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
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 1st October 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Oct 26 at
7:45AM
Summary for all mountain areas
Showers, although in Scotland away from near the coast north from Mull, very few. Cloud will progressively lift above most mountain areas, particularly away from showers.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Showers and hill cloud tending to improve; breezy
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-35mph, least wind east where may variably lessen slightly. Strengthening into evening, to 40mph over the Cuillin, more widely overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure along the west coast, particularly Skye with a chilly feeling; sometimes fairly small east, then deteriorating overnight.
How Wet?
Showers mainly on and close to Skye
Showers mostly on Skye and nearby mainly coastal slopes; very few toward evening. Mostly brief and well scattered elsewhere - extensively dry north of Ullapool and Ben Wyvis.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting off most summits except Skye and nearby
Skye and nearby hills shrouded from 500-600m up in the morning, mostly above 750m into the afternoon. Elsewhere, most cloud above 900m by late morning, and then clearing most summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Skye, rising to 70% elsewhere by afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, increasingly widely to the north and east, a little high cloud arriving later. Very good visibility, a haze offshore to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C to start, rising a degree, locally 7C on sunny slopes to the east. 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
Thu 1st Oct 26 at
7:45AM
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.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, local variability
Cuillin in cloud to low slopes most of the day. West coast hills often shrouded above 500-600m, may break higher between pulses of showers. Highest breaks eastward, though any breaks to Munro summits likely just brief.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
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.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Oct 26 at
7:45AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 25-35mph, trending southwesterly and strengthening, 45-50mph evening, further rising.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure with notable wind chill, deteriorating to challenging conditions into night.
How Wet?
Showery rain
Spots of rain drift from the west from morning, a few bursts of more frequent rain, and perhaps a few hours of sustained falls Skye and nearby, locally heavy. May set in more widely into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud covers Munro summits most or all day, small chance of breaks just above during lulls in rain, but also lowering more broadly over high terrain as rain comes, as low as 400-500m on the Cuillin during heaviest rainfall. May fill in more widely into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Varied visibility, good if cloud breaks but a haze, particularly towards the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, rising a degree Ben Wyvis/Easter Ross. Feeling like -5C, later -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Friday starts the weekend with windy and damp weather, rain quite frequent with extensive cloud for some. On Saturday, higher pressure expands from the south, gradually settling the weather in England and Wales. Scotland remains breezy with cloud and showers, mostly impacting western regions. The following week remains mixed: high pressure to the south and west bringing some windows of brighter, drier weather primarily to England and Wales, but active low pressure systems will break through as well for spells of widespread wind, sometimes gale force, and bands of rain followed by showers. Precise timing of settled versus unsettled weather is currently uncertain. Temperatures variably mild to cool, beginning to reach freezing on Scottish summits, or lower down on clear nights.







