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.)
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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 8th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 7th May 26 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Near freezing all day on higher Scottish mountains, considerable chill factor in the north with brisk winds, though tending to ease. A few showers, snow flurries on Scottish tops, but a fair amount of dry weather for the Highlands. Lighter winds England, Wales & southern Scotland, localised heavy bursts of rain forming.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Strongest winds lessening. Chilly with showers, snow tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-40mph, strongest Ben Hope early in the day. Shifting westerly and easing from the south, but staying at least 30mph north into afternoon, nearer 20mph Skye; slightly less by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced, strenuous in the north with buffeting for a few hours, considerable wind chill, particularly morning. Some improvement, but a distinct chill all day over exposed high terrain.
How Wet?
Showers, flurries on tops, mostly west
Occasional showery rain through morning and perhaps into early afternoon; falling as sleet/snow above 700-800m in west. Patchier into afternoon, but some scattered west coastal showers linger into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest in west in morning, later just caps on west coast tops
Fairly extensive from dawn from 600m up in west, particularly the Cuillin. Lifting through morning to at least 800m, remaining lowest Skye, but increasingly broken, breaks to tops in afternoon, but cloud caps over coastal summits come and go.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 70% well-inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some sun breaking through, best in east. Variable visibility in showers, but becoming very good as showers ease.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, may briefly rise a degree eastern Munros; lowering later in day onward into night to -1 or -2C. Feeling like -10 to -13C in direct wind, coldest in morning on northern tops.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, lowest toward west, tending to drop further evening onward into night from northwest to 700-800m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 9th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 7th May 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 15 to 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Occasional flurries
Scattered brief light showers, mostly eastern hills by afternoon. Falling as snow flurries over hills, to mid-slopes or lower in the morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting, clearing many summits
Occasional patches of cloud on upper slopes in the morning, patches may come and go for a few hours in western areas, but tending to lift above many tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun, best near to west coast in afternoon. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m, lowest in north and in morning, lifting toward 1000m in south. Also frost in sheltered glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 10th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 7th May 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly - timing uncertain, but likely to strengthen to 30mph, risk 40mph north, perhaps widely later, turning N-NW'ly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill, risk more significant later. Walking becoming strenuous, affecting balance on ridges.
How Wet?
Showers, becoming wetter, later snow
Showers coming in from the northwest, falling as snow flurries on the Munros. With time risk becoming more frequent or merging into constant rain, then turns increasingly to snow to mid-heights in north late in day or evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering over western hills
Possibly clear to tops inland and east early in day. Patchy cloud over higher western slopes forming more widely in showers, tending to fill in and lower in steady rain over western mountains.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% dropping to 30%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun mostly toward east, becoming largely cloudy, increasingly overcast. Visibility starts excellent, reducing in precipitation, becoming poor in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2C, but into evening may fall quickly from north toward -2C. Feeling much colder as wind increases.
Freezing Level
800m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Up to 1100m afternoon, but late in day risk a rapid drop from north to 600-700m.
Planning Outlook
A chilly outlook into mid-May, with higher Scottish mountains staying near or often below freezing point as northwesterly air prevails. Higher tops in England and Wales also dropping intermittently to freezing point. Wind-speed varying day-to-day, but prepare for often considerable chill-factor on all mountains. Some frost overnight into valleys when skies are clear. Broadly showery weather over the next 10-day period, plus some fronts bringing persistent rain mostly to northwestern Scotland, often falling as snow on mountain tops, sometimes to below 600m. Drier intervals too, some days with fewer showers and broken cloud lifting above the summits, varying locally day-to-day.