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.)
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Thursday 18th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 17th Jun 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and low cloud affects many mountains, most persistent in the west, patchier and lighter for the Highlands by afternoon. A band of heavier rain for northern England and southwest Scotland, risk some thundery bursts. Blustery southwesterly winds. Feeling humid particularly for England and Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Breezy. Rain and showery bursts, lowest cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest most persistently west coastal mountains, at times 35mph Skye and nearby coastal tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect comfortable walking, in places some buffeting on exposed western ridges, particularly Cuillin. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Rain most frequent west, some heavy
Rain on and off around Skye and coastal hills to Wester Ross all day, pulses of steadier rain extend widely northeastward for periods, but drier intervals Sutherland. Odd heavier bursts possible widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest Skye
Covering hills around Skye and nearby coast most or all day to mid-slopes, some lower banks in rain. Often capping many tops elsewhere, but occasional breaks above 900m in north if dry.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10% on and near Skye; 20% elsewhere.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy, locally brighter toward east coasts. Poor visibility widely in rain; misty around Skye, some better visibility north and east, good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C near west coast, little change all day. Rising to 9C inland and east. Feeling near 0C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 19th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 17th Jun 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising soon from dawn to 40-50mph, gusts 60mph high tops; tending to lessen afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking, sudden buffeting on downslopes to north, gusts may knock you over on tops. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain for a few hours
Bursts of rain extending northwards from overnight into morning, some more constant falls, particularly western areas. Chance of thunder. Breaking up in afternoon, later scattered lighter showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, some very low cloud
In places very low cloud to lower slopes near west coast around Skye, but ragged patches widely in rain. Some breaks higher up or above tops at times for north & eastern areas. May improve later in west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak through high cloud, largely overcast. Misty west coast near Skye; widely hazy, murky around rain, may then improve to be very good later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 10 to 12C, then later in the day, dropping rapidly to 6C. Feeling below freezing in wind all day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 20th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 17th Jun 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, likely strongest afternoon-evening, gusts over 40mph particularly toward north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over hills, affecting comfortable walking and balance on exposed tops and ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers extend east
Showery rain most frequent over Skye and Wester Ross early morning, but extending northeastwards, scattered brief bursts of rain, chance isolated thunder inland. Tending to fade from west in afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest in west and in morning
Covering the hills fairly widely in morning, to some lower slopes Skye and west coast. Bases rising, tending to thin and break, but patches still likely to cap western tops above 700-800m. Better breaks eastward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Misty and largely cloudy start, improving with some sun breaking through and visibility becoming very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little change all day in west, up to 7C inland & eastern hills afternoon. Feeling near -5C in the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Humid southwesterly winds, gales across many mountains on Friday, plus heavy rain, thundery bursts mixed in. Less windy, but still breezy into Saturday in Scotland, feeling less humid for most, but western Scottish hills at least stay cloud capped and with showery rain. Sunday is a drier day with clearer hills, light winds and feeling warmer. Into next week, a mixed west-southwesterly pattern for Scotland, rain and low cloud most common in the west, drier with higher cloud eastwards and more often dry. Warm and humid for England & Wales - often dry, but possible thunderstorms forming at times - detail more uncertain.