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
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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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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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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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
Thursday 8th October 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Oct 26 at
3:26PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Early showers in north Scotland and Wales will fade, widely dry and bright conditions for several midday/afternoon hours. Cool-to-chilly, little wind. High cloud builds west, wind and rain arriving to west Scotland afternoon, spreading east and into England and Wales as evening approaches, deteriorating into night.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Few early showers, then sunny and chilly, rain and wind later
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-20mph just at dawn, soon shifting westerly and lessening to around 10mph, then southwesterly and rapidly restrengthening afternoon, to at least 30mph east, to 45-50mph Skye evening, winds spreading widely into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small morning into midday, then rapidly strengthening wind soon makes walking strenuous west, later widely arduous, challenging west with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Early showers, then rain sets in afternoon through evening
Showers from before dawn soon begin to scatter, increasingly light and likely dry for several hours. Rain arrives onto Skye afternoon, setting in steadily and spreading widely into evening and night, some heavy falls forming along the west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over high terrain, filling in into evening
Cloud will come and go above 600-700m in the morning, breaks between showers increasingly off the high tops, little cloud towards Ben Wyvis/Easter Ross, and tending to break up. Cloud fills in over the Cuillin as afternoon goes, spreading widely to become extensive into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%, lowering to 30% evening
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine through morning, high cloud then arriving from the west, thickening to become overcast by evening. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C most of the day, then rapidly rising as evening approaches, up to 8 or 9C for several overnight hours. Feeling like -5C in strong wind later in the day.
Freezing Level
Just on the high tops at dawn, frosts in sheltered glens; lifting above tops as the day goes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 9th October 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Oct 26 at
3:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly sustained 35-40mph, very gusty, top speeds to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking, powerful gusts constantly challenging balance, sometimes requiring bracing. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day, with hail
Shower after shower streams in from the west, heavy bursts with hail, snow on the high tops, and clustering into persistent falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
High tops in cloud most or all day, base quite variable early, between 600-900m in and out of showers, but increasingly extensive above at least 700m and lowering in heavier rain, to as low as 400m along the west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun here and there. Visibility generally poor on high terrain, hazy to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 10th October 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Oct 26 at
3:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 30-40mph, very gusty. Speed may lessen, though confidence is low.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with considerable buffeting, balance nearly always challenged. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain, sometimes heavy
A near-constant stream of showers from the northwest most or all day, some sleet/snow on high tops at times, and may well set in for several hours with heavy falls on western mountains.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud often down to 400-500m along the west coast, will vary, best chance of breaks approaching 800m or higher towards Ben Wyvis, but also lowering to at least middle slopes here and may widely fill in for several hours.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun east, more often overcast. Poor visibility, sometimes very poor on high tops in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, will vary in showers, locally down to 0C. Feeling like -10C or colder in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above highest summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain, low cloud and strong upland winds across Britain overnight into Friday morning. Friday and Saturday are windy and showery with bright breaks, a risk of severe gales on many summits. Sunday sees a more settled day as a small ridge of high pressure builds from the west; wind eases, plenty of bright breaks, cool temperatures. Next week sees continued mixed weather: bands of rain coming and going, temperatures similarly fluctuating: generally mild, but sometimes chilly in Scotland with freezing levels lowering onto high Munros where rain turns to snow; any accumulating snow soon thaws. Westerly wind will be dominant, often quite strong, gales at times, but this allows for drier, brighter windows on eastern hill groups between weather systems.