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.)
Tuesday'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.
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.
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
Tuesday 15th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Clusters of showers over Scotland from dawn, a few dry, bright breaks forming, mostly south, but pulses of showers return too. A band of rain over England and Wales just at dawn soon passes east for a bright window, followed by intermittent rain, driest windows later afternoon. Cool-to-mild and breezy.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Breezy showers all day, bright glimpses east
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20-25mph, gradually strengthening, shifting northwesterly, to sustained 30mph with stronger gusts Easter Ross to Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery across the hills, ease of walking affected on exposed higher terrain with buffeting gusts and considerable wind chill, later more strenuous.
How Wet?
Frequent showery rain
Showery rain throughout the day, perhaps a broader area of rain in the early morning with a small risk an odd flash of lightning. Showers will cluster together, pass eastward, as well as some lingering drizzle on summits between showery bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive west, varied breaks, best east
Often capping western mountains above 700-800m, banks of cloud to 500m at times, most often near to coast, lower during heaviest falls. Some breaks briefly higher up, most common in east, and tending to break more later in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, most common eastern areas, tending to increase later in the day. Visibility often poor in cloud and rain, particularly west, but very good during clear windows.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little or no change, and trending slightly cooler with time. Feeling like -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty NW'ly 30-35mph, turning westerly, lessening; later SW'ly, restrengthening, later 35-40mph, stronger west coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery start, easing to fairly small effects for a time; conditions later strenuous and will further deteriorate.
How Wet?
Setting in afternoon into evening
A few scattered showers from time to time, most hills dry, particularly early afternoon. Patchy rain will return from the west as afternoon goes, increasingly setting in as evening approaches.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaking for a time
Patches cover high terrain in the morning, most extensive, north. A band of cloud will drift south, but a lifting trend follows, breaks above most summits for a time, then filling from the west from mid-afternoon on, to middle slopes later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60% for several hours, then deteriorating
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best inland south, then high cloud thickens from the west. Good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising to 6C, rising slightly further into night. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above highest summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 17th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 40-50mph, quite gusty, tops speeds approach 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure all day, considerable buffeting will challenge balance; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery rain increasingly frequent
Showers stream onto the west hills from dawn, increasingly pushing eastward and becoming frequent, setting in widely for a few hours at least. Heaviest rain west and north, a risk of hail forming. Beginning to break up later.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Cloud covers west coast hills above 700-800m most or all day, regularly dropping towards 500-600m in showers. Starting higher with breaks to eastern tops in the morning, but will fill in more widely with time, most hills covered above 700m, down to 400m west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Starting 60% east, lowering to 20% widely
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sun, mostly east, increasingly clouding over. Visibility starts good inland, but deteriorating with cloud, rain, and haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C. Feeling like -5C, to as cold as -10C in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A brief window of brighter weather on Wednesday, though some scattered showers around and feeling fresher in cooler temperatures. Showers and strong wind return on Thursday, and then the weather stays often unsettled during the next week as westerlies prevail - areas of low pressure passing north of Scotland with frontal systems bringing bands of rain, followed by showers, wettest over western mountains in Scotland. Often windy, sustained periods of gale-force westerly winds over higher terrain; significant wind chill, particularly in the north where temperatures will occasionally approach freezing point on high Scottish tops. A brief window of high pressure may form Saturday into Sunday, and a chance of a window of higher pressure the following week, but confidence is currently low.