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.)
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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
Wednesday 17th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 16th Jun 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southwesterly winds will be fresh to strong over the mountains. Rain widely fairly persistent in the morning, more showery for Scotland into afternoon, fading for northern England and Wales, but patchy rain lingers in south Wales. Cloud shrouding most high terrain, lowest in west, some breaks afternoon.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Increasingly windy. Rain then showers, cloud base rising.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 20-30mph in morning, strongest near Skye, tending to rise from west, to 35mph afternoon; gusts over 40mph in exposure west coastal mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking over high terrain particularly nearer to west coast by afternoon, frequent buffeting on Cuillin affecting balance. Feeling cool in exposure.
How Wet?
Wettest in morning, then showers.
Rain persistent fairly widely early morning, heaviest south from Wester Ross for an hour or so, then easing. Showery rain then on and off into middle of day and afternoon, most frequent west, but odd heavier showers drift northeastward afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest west
Covering hills around Skye to Wester Ross much of the day above 700-800m, for periods to 500m or lower in rain near coast in morning, base tending to rise. Higher bases Ben Wyvis and inland north from Ullapool, some breaks form best in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly east. Visibility poor in morning rain, mistier western hills, improving to be good away from showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, local 9C in east afternoon. Feeling just below freezing directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 18th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 16th Jun 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 20 to 30mph, at times 35mph Skye and nearby coastal tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect comfortable walking, in places some buffeting on exposed western ridges, particularly Cuillin.
How Wet?
Rain most frequent west
Rain on and off around Skye and coastal hills to Wester Ross all day, pulses of steadier rain. More scattered north and east. Odd heavier bursts possible widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest Skye
Covering hills around Skye and nearby coast most or all day to mid-slopes. Often capping many tops elsewhere, but occasional breaks above 900m in north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy, locally brighter toward east coasts. Misty around Skye, some better visibility north and east, good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C near west coast, little change all day. Rising to 9C inland and east. Feeling near 0C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 19th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 16th Jun 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising soon from dawn to 40-50mph, gusts 60mph high tops; tending to lessen later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking, sudden buffeting on downslopes to north, gusts may knock you over on tops. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain for a few hours
Bursts of rain extending northwards from overnight into morning, some more constant falls, particularly western areas. Chance of thunder. Breaking up in afternoon, later scattered showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, some very low cloud
In places very low cloud to lower slopes near west coast around Skye, but ragged patches widely in rain. Some breaks higher up or above tops at times for north & eastern areas. May improve later in west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak through high cloud, largely overcast. Misty west coast near Skye; widely hazy, murky around rain, may then improve to be very good later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 10 to 12C, then later in the day likely to drop rapidly to 6C. Feeling below freezing in wind all day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Humid southwesterly winds persist late this week, reaching gale-force over hills - affecting northern England and Wales on Thursday, then Scotland by Friday. Periods of rain, some heavy falls with possible thundery bursts mixed in. Low cloud most persistent in the west. Less windy, but still breezy into Saturday in Scotland, feeling less humid for most, but western Scottish hills at least stay cloud capped and with showery rain. Sunday is more uncertain, but a risk of some further rain pushing in from the southwest - warmer again over England and Wales. A mixed west-southwesterly pattern into next week, rain and low cloud most common in western Scotland, drier with higher cloud eastwards and more often dry for England & Wales. Near average temperatures, may rise late week in south.