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
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Wednesday 1st July 2026
Last updated
Tue 30th Jun 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rapidly strengthening wind into the afternoon, gales develop increasingly widely later. Odd showers, then rain sweeps into western Scotland through the afternoon, setting in. England & Wales largely dry until evening. Cloud fairly widely on western hills in the morning, lifting for a time prior to rain.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Varied low cloud; deteriorating to gales and rain later afternoon.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Starting variable 10mph or less from dawn, soon south to southwesterly, strengthening during day to 30-40mph afternoon, later 50-60mph, soonest Skye, more widely into the evening; switching westerly into night, 70mph with stronger gusts overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small early in day, but deteriorating, walking becoming uncomfortable, later in day very difficult mobility over higher terrain, marked wind chill. Severe conditions into overnight hours.
How Wet?
Rain develops, heavy later
Generally dry in morning, and afternoon in north, except for an odd shower. During afternoon, rain moving in quickly from west, setting in heavier toward evening for several hours on western hills. Persistent rain into night, often heavy in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest west in morning, breaks inland prior to rain
Covering most western hills in the morning, to some mid-slopes. Tending to lift and break toward upper slopes during middle of day to afternoon, best inland and east, but capping west coast tops. Lowering later as rain arrives.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%, then later 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some sun breaks through mainly in east, then giving way to thickening high cloud. Visibility very good below cloud, reducing later as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C, little variation all day. Feeling like freezing as wind increases, later near -5C in exposure on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 2nd July 2026
Last updated
Tue 30th Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, 60-70mph around dawn, lessening to 40-50mph during morning, 30-40mph in afternoon; strongest in north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions from overnight and still difficult well into daytime, walking and balance challenging, slowly moderating.
How Wet?
Showery rain
Heavy overnight rain likely clears to leave showery conditions, brief heavier moments, rain frequent in the wind on western hills. Becoming drier with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent west coast tops
Covering high terrain fairly widely from dawn, lifting to upper slopes, but often capping western tops much of the day. Some breaks into afternoon inland & east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun breaking through, most often in east. A general haze near west coast, visibility good below cloud inland & east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little variation all day. Directly in the stronger winds feeling like -7 to -10C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 3rd July 2026
Last updated
Tue 30th Jun 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 40mph, speeds likely to fluctuate during the day, reaching 50mph at least in gusts, greater risk Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking, at times more strenuous on exposed terrain and balance may be challenging on ridges.
How Wet?
Generally damp in west, some rain
Drizzle frequent over western hills, some steadier rain possible for periods, patchier eastwards. Rock surfaces slippery even if only small amounts of rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest west
Covering many hills much of the day, lowest bases over west coastal areas, sometimes to 600m. More often above 800m inland, some breaks eastwards.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, to 40% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly eastern glens. Some haze below cloud in west, better visibility inland, good toward east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, little variation all day. Feeling like 0 to -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterlies prevail across northern Britain. Rain, drizzle and low cloud most frequent over western hills from Lake District northward. Temperatures near average, but feeling cool in exposure to wind on tops. An improving trend from the south over the weekend as higher pressure builds, best conditions for Wales and eastern hills elsewhere. Drier and warmer conditions more likely into next week, very warm some days England and Wales, though southwesterlies still bring more cloud to western Scotland, some rain at times, wettest toward northwest.