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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 14th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Another cold day for May with considerable chill factor in exposure to brisk northerly winds. Showers focused on north-facing areas in the morning, but forming increasingly widely, falling as snow on Scottish Munros, at times higher tops elsewhere; heavy bursts with hail, isolated thunder.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold and windy. Showery with hail, snow on tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25 to 35mph, strongest west coastal areas, squally gusts 40mph. Increasing more widely later in day, particularly north/eastern areas to 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill for mid-May. Ease of walking impeded, at times making balance challenging on exposed ridges.
How Wet?
Showers, increasingly widespread.
Scattered showers from dawn, clustering around coastal areas. Will develop more widely through day, containing hail with snow above 700-900m. Fewer showers later in day, most pushing away southward.
Cloud on the hills?
Bases varied, some breaks inland
Cloud bases varying through day, but frequently banks will cover the tops above 800-1000m; lowest bases in morning from Ben Hope to Skye, at times 600m. Breaks forming best near Great Glen during afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 70% inland afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Skies often filled in with cloud limiting the sun to glimpses; coastal areas improving afternoon. Visibility very good, but lowering to become poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Near 0C all day, lowering to -1C Ben Hope later afternoon; widely -2C from dusk. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, highest in the south. Lowering to 800m near Ben Hope toward evening, more widely 700-800m up to dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 15th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25 to 35mph at dawn, briefly 40mph easternmost hills, but easing to 15 to 25mph through day, less later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous start with significant wind chill and buffeting, but hour by hour easing down, to become mostly small.
How Wet?
Scattered snow and hail showers
A scattering of mostly brief snow and hail showers through the day. Tending to fade near to western coasts. Snow falling 500 to 800m, lowest in the morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, most frequent coastal hills
Banks of cloud over the tops in the morning, concentrated across hills from Skye up to Assynt and Ben Hope where may persist, but tending to lift. Better breaks form inland as bases rise.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, best early morning inland, then improving west coast afternoon. Visibility very good, briefly lowering in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C at dawn, lifting to -1 to +1C; lowest up toward Ben Hope. Feeling like -10 to -15C in early wind.
Freezing Level
700m at dawn, lifting to 800-1000m, staying lowest around Ben Hope.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 16th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable below 10mph at first. Becoming southerly 15 to 25mph, soonest on Skye; by evening westerly 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small early in day, becoming breezier, feeling noticeable and rather chilly on exposed higher terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops later in west
Rare light showers near north coast at first, otherwise a dry morning. Patchy rain pushes onto west coast on and near Skye in afternoon, becoming more persistent later and extending inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any until later
Patchy cloud around some slopes mostly near coast in morning, lifting and clearing. Late in day, some cloud banks forming onto higher slopes, soonest on Cuillin.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun weakens as high cloud thickens during day, more overcast afternoon. Visibility excellent, reducing later near Skye as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to 3C afternoon. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
700m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Rising to be just above freezing to highest summits during afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Becoming gradually less cold into the weekend as northerly winds ease and then switch toward west-southwesterly. Fewer showers by Friday with sunny spells. A dry start to Saturday, frost at dawn where skies are clear. Rain and lowering cloud moves onto west coast areas during Saturday, persistent rain later western Scotland. By Sunday and Monday, areas of showery rain will pass eastwards during the daytimes, leaving western areas generally drier with cloud breaks afternoon-evenings. South-southwesterlies then prevail for a few days next week, with rain at times Tuesday and Wednesday on western hills, particularly Scotland. A drier and warmer theme later in the week as higher pressure builds.