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.
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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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.
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
Friday 29th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very windy Scottish Highlands, afternoon gales, strongest north. Extensive low cloud and rain, most west, some breaks east but little sun. Morning cloud over England and Wales, clearing Wales and S Pennines for afternoon sun. Cloud slow to clear west slopes of Lakeland and N Pennines, spotty rain and blustery here.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Powerful gales, persistent rain, and low cloud
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph, strongest west coast and strengthening, sustained speeds of 45-50mph widely afternoon, gusting 60mph over tops. Strongest wind isolating northward later afternoon, a slight westerly shift too.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance, strongest afternoon gusts make standing upright challenging. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and showers
Persistent rain soon sets in on Skye and nearby hills. Patches increasingly drift northward, heavy falls in the west, and rain becomes more persistent to the north through afternoon. Later, rain will begin to break from the south.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding western mountains most of the day above 500m, or lower for periods near to coasts in rain; the Cuillin likely stays shrouded to low slopes. Some higher breaks mainly eastern areas, but breaks above 800m are unlikely; some chance of more broken cloud northeast areas just at dawn.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull, a few brighter glimpses in the east, and possibly north in the early morning. Visibility largely poor in rain and cloud, locally better eastward below the cloud layer; hazy Skye.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C, mildest east. Wind chill feeling like -7 to -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 30th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 25 to 40mph, strongest west coast mountains, notably Skye, briefly stronger afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions on higher western tops, or challenging on Cuillin. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and showery bursts
Patchy rain soon moving into Skye, spreading more widely with heavier bursts for several hours; most persistent falls west coast. Later showery, some heavy bursts possible.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Patchy cloud banks mostly western hills at first, starting clearer inland/east. Cloud lowering and filling in over many hills, over western mountains to 600-700m, or lower near coast, 400m south Cuillin.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% dropping to 10% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy and dull, a brighter start in east. Visibility starts good, then reducing to poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, reaching 9C Ben Wyvis northward afternoon, small change with added height. Feeling just below freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 31st May 2026
Last updated
Thu 28th May 26 at
3:54PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-35mph, strongest west coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking affected, more often strenuous on the west coast tops with a marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers
Showers drive in from the west in the morning, perhaps a brief period of more persistent rain. Some risk of heavy, thundery bursts in the far north. A slight easing later in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, improving
A sheet of cloud shrouds the hills to 600-700m in the morning, as low as 400m Skye and nearby slopes. Bases lift through morning from the south, approaching 600-900m, highest east. A few breaks here as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40% east, only 20% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloud, some bright breaks south and east. Variable visibility, often poor in showers but very good where clear.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, or 7C well inland. Feeling like -3C or cooler in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Nearer average temperatures for all into the weekend onward as changeable southwesterlies prevail. England and Wales remain fairly sunny through Saturday, only beginning to deteriorate afternoon. Sunday will see showers for all, most in the west, and more frequent with heavy bursts in Scotland. A generally unsettled theme is expected during the first ten days of June with lower pressure dominating. Frontal systems come in from the Atlantic - rain, drizzle and low cloud most common on western coastal mountains, but showery days are likely more widely at times, possibly rain more widely further south later in week. Wind speeds will vary, but reaching gale force on mountains for periods. Occasional cooler spells when the wind turns northwesterly.