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.)
Friday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
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
Friday 18th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 17th Sep 26 at
4:22PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Already windy with light showery rain over western hills early in the day, but conditions will worsen from the west as gales strengthen and rain / drizzle becomes persistent, some heavier rain; cloud bases lower to widely blanket hills, lowest in west.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, strengthening gales; showery rain then constant rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West turning south-southwesterly, 35-45mph or stronger at dawn, briefly less in morning, then increasing rapidly into afternoon to 50-55mph, soonest on Skye; stronger gusts developing, in places 70mph on higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous conditions in exposure most of the day, but deteriorating in afternoon to become more difficult with considerable wind chill; powerful gusts giving buffeting toward some lower slopes.
How Wet?
Showers, then rain sets in from southwest afternoon
Showery rain in morning in west; further east often drier for a few hours. Rain arrives around Skye/Torridon into early afternoon, more widely for several hours, some heavy falls. A legacy of patchy rain and drizzle into evening-night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops, filling in afternoon
Cloud often covers west slopes above 700-800m some variability and a lifting trend through morning, good summit breaks Easter Ross. Blanket cloud arrives to Skye, filling in widely well into the day, may later break up again somewhat toward dusk, but shrouding most hills, lowest in west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, to 70% east, lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy weak sun early in day giving way to thickening high cloud, then overcast, dull. Generally hazy, and deteriorating to poor visibility in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, rising to 8C from southwest toward evening, then slight drop into night. Feeling often near to -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 19th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 17th Sep 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 55mph, powerful squally gusts around showers; risk increasing further later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions, balance frequently challenged on high exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent rain west
Showery all day on western mountains, rain rarely fully ceasing for long, a mix of drizzle and some heavier bursts. Smaller amounts of rain reaching eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Often covering western mountains above 700-800m, some patches to 600m or lower in rain near coast. Brief breaks higher up inland. Bases higher eastwards.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun, more common east. Hazy west, at times poor visibility in rain, better eastwards, good where dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, trending slightly cooler later in the daytime. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 20th September 2026
Last updated
Thu 17th Sep 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50mph in the morning, tending to lessen gradually to 30-40mph, remaining strongest on northern mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, difficult on higher exposed slopes in morning, significant wind chill; moderating gradually.
How Wet?
Rain on and off, fading
Showery rain over western mountains in the morning, brief scattered showers further east. Tending to fade to become drier, but odd light showers come and go.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent coastal tops
Banks of cloud above 600-800m in the morning, lowest on west coastal hills. Tending to rise and break higher with time, but patches likely come and go above 800-900m near west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some sun breaking through with time. West coastal haze, visibility very good inland and east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, little change all day, then tending to rise onward into night. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Gale-force southwesterly winds continue extensively on the mountains into Saturday and early Sunday. Frequent rain over western hills, showers passing eastwards, tending to fade during Sunday as higher pressure begins to build from the south, allowing wind speeds to lessen too over England & Wales. Warmer into early next week, though higher humidity brings more cloud some drizzly rain to the west. A generally more promising forecast for late September as high pressure nearby offers drier and warmer weather for more places. Weather systems grazing past Scotland to the north still bring locally stronger winds and occasional rain mainly to the northwest.