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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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 15th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 14th Apr 26 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread gales, powerful gusts over tops and down northern slopes, severe at times in Scotland, particularly west. Persistent rain for many, brief dry windows east (notably Pennines), then heavy rain sweeps east afternoon, followed by showers, only easing late in the day. Mild air, but feeling cold in wind.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Rain, most persistent Skye; mild but feeling cold in gusty gales
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 40-55mph, some variability but with powerful gusts, not just high slopes, locally variable direction, approaching 60mph at times. An easing tendency later, notably along the coast, but always a risk of stronger gusts returning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with significant wind chill in exposure all day; constant chaotic gusts making it difficult to stay on your feet; any forward progress tortuous in most powerful wind.
How Wet?
Near-constant rain Skye/Kintail, patchier north, showers later
Rain fairly widespread in the morning, local heavy falls, trending patchier to the east and north, at time dry; staying drizzly on high southern tops. Rain more persistent on Skye and Kintail, trending showery later, some showers drifting further north.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some improvement inland/north
Widely extensive to mid-slopes from dawn, to lower slopes in many places, particularly south Cuillin. A lifting trend in bases, perhaps higher terrain Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope, possibly some summit breaks afternoon. Skye stays well shrouded, and later more widely shrouded again.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Skye, to 30% well inland and north
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of weak afternoon sun, but otherwise mostly cloudy and often dull in cloud/rain. Visibility better to the north for a time as rain breaks, but suddenly deteriorating where rain returns.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little change with height from dawn. Mildest north where may rise to 8C near Ben Hope and parts of Caithness. Feeling as cold as -10C in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits all day, lowering onto the high tops overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 16th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 14th Apr 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph, some lighter speeds in the early morning. Speeds may approach 50mph briefly coastal south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking soon arduous in exposure with frequent buffeting gusts and significant wind chill, locally more challenging.
How Wet?
Showers become widespread, later easing
Frequent showers onto Skye and Kintail from dawn, also often along the west coast. More scattered inland at first but a trend towards more widespread showers from midday, often heavy, then easing later.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, most extensive south
Cloud shrouds high tops at dawn, bases 600-900m, lowest south, locally 400-500m southern aspects. A lifting trend with some breaks, though increasingly frequent showers limit clear summits. Least breaks Skye/Torridon, bases rarely above 700-800m until late.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine, best north and east, at times more often cloudy. Variable visibility, excellent out of rain but suddenly very poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, rising to 3C, locally 4C Ben Wyvis. Variably cooler around showers. Feeling like -8 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just touching highest tops at dawn, soon lifting above all summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 17th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 14th Apr 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 30-45mph, some variability and a risk of higher speeds along west coast, to 55mph Skye for periods.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking often arduous in exposure with considerable wind chill, more challenging near the west coast for periods.
How Wet?
Often raining, heavy showers Skye later
Showery rain drifts northward across all Munros through the day, setting in more persistently for several hours with an increasing risk of heavy falls. Later breaking into scattered showers, heaviest Skye with hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, mostly high terrain, late breaks
Highly variable: high tops in cloud most of the day, bases between 700-900m, more widely lower as rain sets in and with ragged patches forming to lower slopes during and after rain. Later, higher breaks, perhaps to summits inland north, though unlikely Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%; 40% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy and often dull in rain with poor visibility. Sunny glimpses later with good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 to 6C, mildest in the north. Feeling as cold as -10C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled conditions as the weekend approaches: showery on Thursday (local hail and lightning in Scotland), more rain and often heavy on Friday, accompanied by gusty winds, gales over mountains for periods; some bright spells on Thursday and later Friday too. Temperatures will tend to rise several degrees during daylight, even when cloudy, and often becoming warm in the valleys; slopes north of major hill groups often milder too. Saturday sees continued showers, mostly north and west where staying blustery, but a trend towards higher pressure building through late weekend into early next week. Confidence in detail for oncoming high pressure remains very low: a risk of chilly easterly wind for a time with showers, mostly east and southern areas.