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.)
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 5th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly gale-force winds over high terrain in northern England and near west coast of Scotland; wind strengthening widely over the Highlands. Areas of persistent rain and heavy downpours becoming widespread for the Highlands, local thunderstorms. Frequent rain for northern England, less for Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Strengthening wind. Often raining, heavy bursts, low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph from dawn in many places, but northernmost tops northeasterly risk 25mph. Becoming northerly and strengthening all areas into afternoon, reaching 30-35mph, at times 40mph Skye, later elsewhere.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting mostly small, but increasingly affecting ease of walking on high terrain, in places more strenuous in afternoon, making balance more challenging. Marked wind chill develops.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain, some heavy
Areas of rain affect the region much of the day, setting in heavier for periods, particularly around north and west coastal areas, possibly some thundery downpours also inland, chance of lightning. Showery rain continuing into evening most places.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding mountains widely much of the day, with ragged patches from lower slopes up around heavier rain. Rare breaks toward some higher slopes. Bases may tend to rise with some breaks later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Visibility poor during rain, occasionally improving, perhaps better generally later in the day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C, coolest toward the north, little change all day. Feeling near or below freezing in the stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 6th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwest then west, later southwesterly; 15 to 30mph, strongest north, more widely around dawn, again by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but affecting comfortable walking at times on some higher slopes. Feeling distinctly chilly.
How Wet?
Brief showers, drier, then rain later
A few mostly light showers in the morning tending to fade to become often dry. Later in the afternoon, some patchy rain and drizzle moving in from the west, then more persistent rain evening up to dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting with breaks to tops
Most cloud soon above 700-800m in the morning, lifting higher. May come and go in the west above 1000m, more often clearing eastwards. Tending to lower near coast over tops later in day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6C afternoon. Feeling below freezing where exposed to stronger wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 7th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 4th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph at dawn, strongest north and widely strengthening, 45-55mph, or stronger near Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery from dawn, deteriorating to challenging walking; gusts knocking you off balance and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day
Frequent, or persistent rain, particularly west coast, heavy falls come and go. Best chance of lighter or broken falls to the east, and may ease somewhat later in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Hills widely shrouded to middle slopes in the morning, to lower slopes along the west coast with ragged patches into glens. A lifting trend though any breaks above 700-800m isolated to far eastern areas; varied lower banks in the west as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely. Poor visibility in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, rising slightly, up to 9C Ben Wyvis. Feeling like -5C in strongest wind, or colder far north.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail later this week and into the weekend and further weather fronts will come in off the Atlantic to bring low cloud and rain especially to western mountains in Scotland. A brief ridge of high pressure this Thursday offers a better day with the wind lessening for a time and fewer showers, but winds likely strengthen again by Friday, toward gale force over northwestern Scottish mountains at least. Heavy rain likely affects western Scotland on Saturday, becoming widely showery into Sunday. A brief window of improvement is indicated early next week, but a generally unsettled theme likely continues into mid-month.