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.)
Saturday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
The Pennines and east Scotland begin with weak sun through high cloud and largely dry. Western areas start cloudier with patchy rain, then Storm Boelo draws a swathe of heavy rain and severe gales eastward across all areas, a period of storm-force wind for many summits. Steams in spate, localised flooding.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Briefly dry north/east, then heavy rain and severe gales
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising rapidly from dawn to be soon 50mph, reaching 70-80mph+, locally 90mph; marked increase with height. Will vary somewhat in speed and direction, briefly southeasterly afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, soon arduous walking on exposed terrain with significant wind chill, conditions become severe with any mobility difficult on high terrain.
How Wet?
Heavy rain soon sets in
Dry at dawn, for a few hours east and north. Patchy rain soon arrives to Skye, a little snow on high tops at first; spreading north and east and quickly setting in widely heavy, continuing through afternoon; local torrential falls. Showery into night, snow on tops. Very wet underfoot, streams in spate.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering to become extensive
Initially scattered patches at varied heights, mostly Skye and perhaps Caithness too. Increasingly cloud will lower onto hills, to lower elevations coastal areas near Skye; some higher breaks remain in more northwestern areas, but will become extensive here afternoon too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% at first, dropping to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any weak sun at dawn soon gives way to overcast and increasingly dull conditions. Good visibility soon becomes hazy towards the west coast and then poor visibility as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C rising briefly up to 3 or 4C afternoon, then falling again to 1C into evening. Feeling around -10 to -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000m, patchy frost some inland glens at dawn as well; rising above all summits during the morning. Lowering again into night to just around summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 25th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 70 to 90mph, gusts to 100mph or higher over higher mountains. Strongest wind early, staying strongest north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions, mobility very difficult, repeatedly blowing you over; challenging even modest hills with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rarely ceasing rain, hail, upland snow
Near-constant precipitation from dawn, snow often falling above 700m, also hail at all elevations, mixed with rain. Prolonged heavier falls, but a tendency towards lighter falls, at least southern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive nojrth
Cloud base varying, often covering higher tops above 800-900m, some banks to 600m or lower at times in west, filling in for periods northern areas. Higher breaks east, and may break up more in southern areas afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief bursts of sun. A general haze at best, visibility often poor due to precipitation, to appalling in snow and cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or 0C. Wind chill feels like -15 to -20C in exposure.
Freezing Level
900m, to perhaps 800m earlier in the day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 26th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 35-40mph, shifting southerly, briefly lessening; later 40-50mph, further strengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be briefly fairly small, but often blustery, more strenuous conditions early and late with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Spotty rain/snow, then rain sets in
A little spotty rain/snow around in the morning (snow above 900m), many eastern hills dry for a few hours. Rain arrives to Skye, spreading widely and setting in, persistent in many places with heavy bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches on high terrain, becoming extensive
Varied patches mostly above 700-800m in the morning, some breaks to summits. Cloud will lower onto Skye as rain arrives, increasingly spreading north through afternoon, extensive to middle slopes; west coast slopes near and north of Ullapool stay clearer for longer.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, lowering to 10% through afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun through high cloud to start, good visibility (perhaps some haze). Trending cloudier, to finish overcast and dull.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, slight rise, then sharp rise, first south and west hills, to 11C evening/night. Feeling below 0C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1000m at dawn, lifting well above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Stormy conditions widely across the mountains this weekend, peak wind speeds into Sunday over Scottish mountains with gusts 100mph on higher tops. Showery conditions for Sunday, turning back to snow on higher terrain in Scotland. Very wet ground conditions, beware flooding of many streams and rivers making some routes impassable. A relative lull by early Monday in Scotland, but the next weather system soon sweeps in from the southwest with more heavy rain and extensive mountain gales, continuing into Tuesday. Mild south-southwesterlies mid-late week; smaller amounts of rain, some drier windows toward east and south. Generally staying windy, particularly in Scotland. Some chance of a mid-late week ridge of high pressure in England and Wales, but unlikely to persist.