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.)
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate 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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 20th October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:53PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Damp for most, fairly widespread drizzle, rain, and low cloud; a rising risk of steady falls with heavy bursts in England and Scotland. Areas north of major hill groups see lighter, patchier rain, and north Scotland starts drier. Scotland will be windy; lighter wind southward, particularly Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Fog and rain gradually build, best breaks northwest; windy
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 30 to 40mph, varying during day, at times gusty 45-50mph in places, not just highest tops, most notable gusts downslope near and north of Ullapool.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking much of the day, strongest gusts downslope in the northwest challenging stability with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain locally, wetter later
Substantially dry perhaps well into afternoon coastal hills Torridon to Ullapool area, but local pockets of drizzly rain drift in from the south, becoming more persistent Skye, and tending to spread more widely as the day goes.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, locally better west
Banks of cloud on many hills above 700-800m, local lower patches on south-facing slopes, and soon extensive from Ben Wyvis north to Ben Hope. Some marked variation may occur near coast north from Torridon area, possible good breaks on north slopes well into the day, but cloud base lowering as rain arrives.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, local glimpses of weak sun toward the north. Visibility very good if dry, but reduced to be poor around drizzle and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, little change all day, locally slightly warmer spots toward west coast. Feeling like -2 to -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Likely to vary, south-southeasterly 20-30mph at first, then a lull, later westerly 25-35mph, gusting stronger west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for periods, but feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain, and later more strenuous in exposure.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, some drier areas
Rain initially mostly northern areas, possibly dry for a few hours Skye and Wester Ross, but with time a rising risk of rain moving in from the south, turning to snow on the Munros into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, local breaks west
Covering many higher mountains, varied bases, lowest around rain to 600-700m, possibly lower east in morning. Breaks higher up around Torridon if dry.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some brighter moments west, rare sun through high cloud. Visibility good if dry, but reduced in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C tending to drop to 2C later. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but into evening and night dropping toward freezing on highest tops above 1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Oct 26 at
4:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-25mph, trending south-southeasterly into/overnight and notably strengthening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during daylight, a few blustery moments in exposure and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Few showers, snow on summits
Showers drift onto Skye and nearby hills from time to time, some risk clustering and spreading north along the coast, but plentiful dry windows well-inland. Falling as snow to 700m, this rising to just summits.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping south and west Munros
Cloud will rarely break above 900-1000m on Skye and nearby mountains. Cloud regularly lowering towards 700m in showers, some lengthy cloudy periods on Skye. Cloud more often broken northward, particularly towards Easter Ross/Caithness.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Skye, to 50% north and east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, more often north and east. Varied visibility, sometimes very good but suddenly poor, or very poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C lifting to 2 or 3C. Feeling like -5 to -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, lifting above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A complex weather setup into midweek with slow-moving fronts bringing areas of rain and fairly extensive low cloud over the hills. Varied wind speeds and direction, though a risk of gales quickly sweeping into England and Wales Wednesday. Thursday may offer a window of brighter weather and lessening wind, but Thursday evening into night sees a deep area of low pressure move across England & Wales with heavy rain and gales, possibly turning to snow on higher mountains. Scotland may avoid this system and just see showers mostly in the west for Friday, wintry on tops. Atlantic southwesterlies then follow into the weekend: strong wind, periods of low cloud and rain, brighter windows too but with showers in the west. Some risk of stormy conditions in Scotland. Generally unsettled weather likely prevails to the end of October.