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.)
Thursday'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.
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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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.
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
Thursday 10th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 9th Sep 26 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy, gales over Scottish mountains and increasingly on higher tops of England & Wales. Rain starts patchy and light but becomes persistent over western hills, extending eastwards with time. Cloud capping most high tops, lowering in rain particularly in the west.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales on tops. Rain becomes heavy for a time in west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening from dawn to give sustained speeds of 45-50mph during morning into middle of day over tops, stronger gusts for a time. Starting to ease during afternoon to later 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions over the mountains, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Tending to moderate during afternoon, but still very blustery over the tops. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain sets in for a few hours Skye and west, patchy rain extends north/east
A little rain drifts from the southwest from dawn, mostly Skye and nearby hills, only drizzly spots elsewhere. On Skye, steadier then heavier rain develops during morning, with time extending across Wester Ross, patchier north and eastwards, but some bursts of rain into afternoon. Breaking up later into showery rain in the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Cloud shrouds the Cuillin from middle slopes up all day, nearby mainland often similarly shrouded to 600-700m. Towards the north and east, more broken, some summit breaks east of Ullapool. Cloud becomes more widely extensive as rain develops. Some rise of base late in day west, occasional breaks form.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% inland in morning, to 10% Skye, but lowering in rain widely.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few glimpses of sun to the north and east. Soon hazy Skye, then poor in rain. Good visibility out of cloud and rain inland, but increasingly widely poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C, then lowering again into night. Feeling like -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 11th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 9th Sep 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph, strongest near and north of Ullapool; slightly lessening but also gusty. Rising onward into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking impacted on high tops, some buffeting gusts. A chilly feeling. Deteriorating into night to gales.
How Wet?
A little rain and drizzle, fading
Spotty rain drifts from the west from dawn, a little drizzle over high western tops, gradually easing, likely dry by later afternoon. Rain develops well into night, later heavy in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Clinging to western summits
A layer of cloud fairly widely above 800-900m to start, lower bases west, ragged patches towards lower slopes. A lifting trend, cloud tending to break up, best Easter Ross. Cloud will continue to roll over high tops, breaks unlikely over the Cuillin until late.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Gradually rising towards 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun breaking out. Good visibility but a building haze west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, locally rising a degree inland. Feeling like -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 12th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 9th Sep 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 60 to 70mph from dawn, lessening gradually during day to 30-40mph afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very difficult conditions with powerful gusts to low levels early in day, moderating, but remaining challenging; notable chill.
How Wet?
Rain tends to clear
Heavy rain from dawn, breaking up into rain on and off, still some heavier bursts at times in west. Increasingly patchy and during afternoon may fade out.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some improvement
Blanket cloud across the hills in early rain, some rise of base, but fairly persistent over higher slopes. Best of breaks toward north and east in afternoon, rare to high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through. Hazy, but visibility better as rain clears.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, may be briefly up to 10C. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Changeable west-southwesterlies prevail through mid September; often windy, gale-force winds for periods over higher terrain. A window of drier weather this Friday, then the next frontal system sweeps in overnight into Saturday with a sustained fall of rain moving southeastward, accompanied by upland gales for most places. Improving for better weather on Sunday, then wind and rain returns into Monday, staying showery into Tuesday. A mixed outlook likely continues later next week with rain most frequent in western Scotland. Temperatures varying, some cooler days especially in Scotland, but often fairly mild further south, at times quite warm and humid.