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.)
Sunday'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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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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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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Sunday 20th September 2026
Last updated
Sat 19th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force winds over Scottish mountains early in the day lessen, but staying blustery and feeling chilly, for northern areas in particular. Showery rain in the west in the morning fading. Cloud base rising with good breaks forming, sunny spells best toward east. Lightest winds for Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales on tops gradually lessening; showery rain easing.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50mph in the morning, stronger gusts for a few hours northern mountains, tending to lessen gradually to 30-40mph, remaining strongest toward north, whilst around Skye 20-25mph later afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, difficult on higher exposed slopes in morning, significant wind chill; moderating gradually, later in day becoming fairly small around Skye.
How Wet?
Rain on and off, fading
Showery rain over western mountains in the morning, brief scattered showers further east. Tending to fade to become drier, but odd light showers come and go. Rain and drizzle returns from west into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent coastal tops
Banks of cloud above 600-800m in the morning, lowest on west coastal hills. Tending to rise and break higher with time, but patches likely come and go above 800-900m near west coast. Into night, blanket low cloud rolls in from southwest.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some sun breaking through with time. West coastal haze, visibility very good inland and east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, little change all day, then tending to rise onward into night. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 21st September 2026
Last updated
Sat 19th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 35 to 50mph, very gusty in places, the strongest gusts not confined to highest summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery, affecting ease of walking and knocking you off balance, sudden buffeting gusts in some passes and downslope.
How Wet?
Rain then drizzle
Steady rain widely for a time early in the day, easing and becoming patchier light rain, but staying generally drizzly over western hills all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, very low west
Blanket cloud across the hills, foggy from lower elevations upward near the west coast likely all day. Some breaks may emerge at varied levels further inland and east, but rarely clearing any summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun unlikely, misty poor visibility widely, hazy even below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, small change with added height and little change into night; quite humid, but still feeling near 0C if directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
Last updated
Sat 19th Sep 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40mph gusts 50mph for a few hours, then likely to drop substantially to 20mph or less in afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with buffeting gusts toward some lower elevations; moderating and may become fairly small.
How Wet?
Rain much of day west, some heavier
Drizzle and light rain fairly persistent around Skye and Torridon, merging into more constant steady rain with heavier moments. Smaller patchier amounts northeast, locally often dry for periods.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive low cloud, later may break
Shrouding hills from lower elevations upward around Skye and nearby west coast, fairly extensive most western hills above 600m. Higher bases northeast, breaks to 800m or higher. Cloud may thin and break later over western hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, murky poor visibility in rain in west, then later may improve here. Locally brighter furthest east, good visibility below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, quite humid; then dropping likely later in day and into evening to 6C. Feeling near/below 0C in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Warm and humid air from the southwest extends across Britain early in the new week, cloaking many hills in fog and drizzle, to lower slopes near western coasts. A band of steadier rain is likely to be draped over northwest Scotland by Tuesday. Best of cloud breaks in areas further east and northeast. Rain then passes eastwards into Wednesday followed by a few showers, lower humidity and cloud bases lifting. Later in the week, areas of low pressure toward the northwest likely still bring periods of stronger winds to Scotland at least and a risk of rain at times mainly in the west, but a trend toward higher pressure and drier weather more often for the end of September into the start of October.