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.)
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 24th June 2021
Last updated
Wed 23rd Jun 21 at
4:35PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A damp atmosphere shrouds most west coastal hills in fog to lower slopes in morning. Some breaks forming for England, Wales & eastern Scotland. Rain heavier in middle of the day in western Scotland, spreading later to NW England and N Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery. A period of heavier rain; blanket fog western mountains.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, 25 to 35mph in the morning, speeds locally varied, suddenly gusty in places. Will tend to drop by afternoon, turning northerly later, but risk increasing again by evening to 30mph, perhaps 40mph into the night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Buffeting on higher terrain for several hours, tending to ease through middle of day. Beware of deteriorating conditions late in day, with noticeable wind chill in exposure.
How Wet?
Rain fairly persistent west, heavier for a few hours.
Rain and drizzle from dawn, focused on western mountains, becoming more persistent and heavier through morning into middle of day, soonest on Skye, lasting several hours into afternoon, then tending to break up, but expect rain or drizzle on and off into the evening. Smaller amounts of rain spilling eastwards.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive, particularly near coast
Toward the coast, from lower slopes up, hills may well be persistently foggy. Progressively inland, the cloud base will rise. On easternmost hills, cloud only occasionally below 500m, and breaks to 900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, if any, confined to lower eastern slopes. Intermittently very good visibility, but poor in rain - extensively so western areas from lower slopes upwards.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C, but will drop toward 4C from late afternoon into evening, locally a degree or so lower from dusk.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 25th June 2021
Last updated
Wed 23rd Jun 21 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northeasterly, 20 to 25mph, strongest near coasts, risk 30-35mph for a time early morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk considerable buffeting on exposed coastal summits in west. Marked wind chill on higher summits.
How Wet?
A little rain locally, chance a shower
Patchy rain focused on east and northernmost hills, but western areas more often dry through the day. Isolated showers may form inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks forming west
Fairly extensive low cloud may persist through the day on hills nearest the North Sea, including Ben Wyvis, also Ben Hope. Elsewhere, banks of cloud on higher slopes likely to lift and break toward higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A lot of cloud, but some sun breaking through, mainly western areas south from Torridon where visibility becoming very good. North & eastern areas may stay dull.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 6C
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 26th June 2021
Last updated
Wed 23rd Jun 21 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Direction varied, mostly less than 10-15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Rain unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly east
Banks of low cloud may linger on summits nearest the North Sea. Some patches elsewhere in morning, but most western summits becoming largely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine breaking through most widely in west, where visibility very good. Eastern areas may remain dull.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Low pressure drifts slowly southwards across Britain through Friday into the weekend, followed by improving conditions from the north as pressure builds. Residual areas of rain, drizzle and low cloud may affect Wales, the Pennines and perhaps eastern Scotland through the weekend, whilst west & northwest Scotland become fine and increasingly warm. Most indications favour high pressure influencing Britain into next week, bringing mainly dry and warm weather. Despite some rain this week, most mountain areas will remain very dry underfoot: beware of the risk of fire.