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.)
Monday'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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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
Monday 17th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 16th Aug 26 at
3:56PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Much of the Highlands largely dry well into the afternoon with light winds, but some local patchy light rain and varied cloud. Rain develops from the west later, setting in heavy into evening. England and Wales sees patchy rain, drizzle and low cloud, though mid & south Wales tends to improve.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Mostly dry with cloud breaks, then heavy rain and breezy later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction 10mph or less in morning, becoming southerly and tending to increase in western areas, 20-25mph by late afternoon, more widely into evening, reaching 30-35mph around Skye by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but becoming more blustery in west and later in day starting to affect comfortable walking in exposure.
How Wet?
Largely dry until late, heavy rain by evening Skye and west
Odd patches of light rain, very locally an isolated showery burst may form inland in afternoon, but substantially dry most places until late in day. Rain develops around Skye late afternoon, setting in heavy by evening, extending inland. Rain affects north/east areas into night, breaks up into showers in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to many tops, then later very low cloud west
Varied banks of cloud at different heights early in day, some hills clearer. Tending to thin and break, possibly leaving many hills clear, or just patches around high tops. Later as rain arrives, cloud lowering extensively from west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, then late in day 10% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, a little sun mostly weak through high cloud, thickening in west later. Visibility very good, reducing to poor later in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10C. Feeling colder late in day as wind increases, close to freezing on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 18th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 16th Aug 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking, higher up more frequent buffeting making movement challenging. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Showery rain most frequent over western hills. Some drier windows toward east. A band of rain may linger toward the north for a few hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest west
Often covering western hills above 600 to 800m, inland more often the cloud above 800m, whilst further east higher breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy with brief sun. Visibility good, but reduced in showers and slight coastal haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, trending cooler later in day. Feeling near or below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 19th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 16th Aug 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Speed and direction likely to vary, may be often 10mph or less, but risk sudden gusts in rain. May increase NE'ly 30mph later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but prepare for notable wind chill if exposed to gusts, or stronger speeds later.
How Wet?
Heavy showers forming, risk lightning
Patchy rain mostly around coastal fringes early in the day, but increasingly showery rain forming widely, heavy bursts mainly inland into the afternoon, moving around slowly to give rain locally for an hour or more. Risk of thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, most extensive around rain
Patchy cloud around some slopes in the morning, tending to lift toward high tops, mostly confined above 900m with higher breaks. During and after rain, cloud lowering, ragged patches to lower slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief sun inland in the morning, clouding over; some sun later near coasts. Visibility very good when dry, but poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, little change all day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain spreads to most places on Monday night as a frontal system moves eastward. Low pressure to the north will gradually drift south to envelop most of Britain into midweek, bringing showery conditions widely, some more organised bands of rain at times. Some heavy and thundery downpours forming, mostly into the afternoons in the second half of this week, becoming focused further south with time. Fresh westerly winds turning northerly and temperature lowering later in the week, dropping close to freezing on high Scottish tops by Friday and frost may occur in Highland glens over a couple of nights. Drier weather is likely by the weekend as higher pressure builds.