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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 13th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 12th May 26 at
4:35PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold for the time of year, with a cyclonic and unstable north-westerly bringing an increasingly widespread showery day across the hills. Showers heavy, with hail and risk of isolated thunder. Snow falling above around 700m. Gusty north-westerly winds, particularly strong and turbulent in and around the showers.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold, windy and showery with hail and above 600-700m snow. Risk thunder.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25 to 30mph, strongest toward Skye, risk increasing all western hills later toward 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill, very blustery, may become more challenging in exposure over west coastal mountains.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and hill snow
Showers mostly coastal mountains in north and west early morning, but becoming widespread, heavy bursts with hail, risk isolated thunder; snow often falling on the Munros, at times down to 600-700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying quickly over high terrain
Cloud frequently changing over tops, often capping windward higher slopes in the west and north above 800-900m, ragged patches to 600m in showers; occasionally breaking above higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of bright sun and intermittently excellent visibility, but suddenly appalling where in cloud, snow or hail.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 2C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, nearer -15C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
900m early morning, rising toward or just above highest summits into afternoon, but lowering again in showers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 14th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 12th May 26 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-westerly 15 to 25mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling cold for mid May, with considerable chill in the north-westerly wind.
How Wet?
Showers, increasingly widespread.
Scattered showers from dawn, clustering around coastal areas. Will develop more widely through day, containing hail with snow above 700-900m. Risk, persistent precipitation edging into west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Bases varied, often banked across tops.
Cloud bases varying through day, but frequently banks will cover the tops above 800-1000m; lowest bases in morning from Ben Hope to Skye, when perhaps 600m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Skies often filled in with cloud limiting the sun to glimpses. Visibility very good, but lowering to become poor or very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around freezing, lowering to -1C Skye to Ben Hope later in the afternoon.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, highest in the south. Lowering to 800m, Skye to Ben Hope toward evening.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 15th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 12th May 26 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25 to 35mph at dawn, perhaps 40mph easternmost hills, but easing to 15 to 25mph through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous start with significant wind chill and buffeting, but hour by hour easing down, to become mostly small.
How Wet?
Scattered snow and hail showers
A scattering of snow and hail showers through the day. Fewest across western coastal hills and Skye. Snow falling 500 to 800m, lowest in the morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, concentrated over northern hills.
Bases varying through the day, with patches of banks of cloud over the tops, concentrated across hills from Skye up to Assynt and Ben Hope where may persist.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, best early morning and west coast afternoon. Visibility very good, but lowering in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C at dawn, lifting to -1 to plus 1C; lowest up toward Ben Hope.
Freezing Level
700m at dawn, lifting to 800-1000m, staying lowest around Ben Hope.
Planning Outlook
Staying notably chilly for mid-May through this week as air from the north-northwest prevails, with showers heavy at times and containing hail with snow over the tops, but over the weekend a front will edge in and bring a change to westerly winds. Next week may see ridging across England and Wales giving drier conditions, but occasional rain and blustery south-westerly winds for Scotland.