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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 15th Sep 26 at
4:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Northwesterly wind pushes chilly air and showers into Scotland, milder but showery in Wales and west England. Wind lessens and showers increasingly scattering, a few light showery clusters here and there (total rainfall small). Rain and wind into west Scotland later, spreading widely overnight.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Early shower fade, sun breaks; rain and wind later
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-25mph, soon shifting westerly and lessening, to 10-15mph or briefly less, then shifting southwesterly and rapidly strengthening, finishing 40-50mph, strongest along the coast and gusty. Further rising into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small effects through much of morning and into afternoon, but deteriorating through afternoon to widely strenuous conditions with considerable buffeting and wind chill and further deteriorating overnight.
How Wet?
Early showers, dry window, then later rain
Scattered showers in the morning, soon mostly just northern areas and fading for several dry hours. Patchy rain will return from the west as afternoon goes, first on Skye, spreading and setting in as evening approaches.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaking for a time, increasingly extensive into evening
Patches cover high terrain in the morning, most extensive north. A lifting trend, breaks above most summits for a time, though caps may continue to graze the Cuillin. Cloud begins filling from the west from mid-afternoon on, high terrain increasingly shrouded, later as low as 500m towards west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60% for several hours, then deteriorating, 20% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best south and inland, then high cloud thickens from the west. Visibility very good well into the day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C rising to 6C, rising slightly further into night. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind later in the day.
Freezing Level
Just above highest tops in the north at dawn, rising further above summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 17th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 15th Sep 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 40-55mph, quite gusty, tops speeds approach 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure all day, considerable buffeting will challenge balance; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery rain sets in
Showers stream onto the west hills from dawn, increasingly pushing eastward and becoming frequent, setting in widely for a few hours at least. Heaviest rain west and north, a risk of hail forming. Beginning to break up later.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Cloud covers west coast hills above 700-800m most or all day, regularly dropping towards 500-600m in showers. Starting higher with breaks to eastern tops in the morning, but will fill in more widely with time, most hills covered above 600m, down to 400m west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Starting 60% east, lowering to 10% widely
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sun, mostly east, increasingly clouding over. Visibility starts good inland, but deteriorating with cloud, rain, and haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C. Feeling like -5C, to as cold as -10C in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 18th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 15th Sep 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, turning southwesterly, 35-45mph; trending lighter for a few hours, but gusts to 55mph over tops later in the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous conditions in exposure most of the day, buffeting affecting stability with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery rain, mostly afternoon
Areas of patchy rain through morning, dry windows, and often dry east Munros. Rain arrives around Skye/Torridon afternoon, more widely for several hours, some heavy falls, breaking up later.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops, later filling in
Cloud often covers west slopes above 700-800m some variability and a lifting trend through morning, good summit breaks Easter Ross. Blanket cloud arrives to Skye, filling in widely well into the day, may later break up again somewhat.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, to 70% east, lowering to 10% well into the day
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, increasingly cloudy afternoon and dull for a time. Generally hazy, and deteriorating in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6C, further rising to approach 8C into evening. Feeling below 0C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Showers and strong westerly wind prevails from Thursday into the weekend - areas of low pressure passing north of Scotland with frontal systems bringing bands of rain, followed by showers, wettest over western mountains in Scotland. Periods of gale-force winds over higher terrain, cool temperatures with significant wind chill, particularly in the north where temperatures will occasionally approach freezing point on high Scottish tops. Showers generally more scattered in England and Wales, most showers in the west; bright spells too, but bands of rain and low cloud will pass these areas. Mild temperatures, at times warm south Pennines and Wales. Milder, more settled weather is indicated next week, though sometimes breezy in Scotland, spells of rain in the west.