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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 7th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Frequent rain and severe gales over Scottish Highlands, easing from west later; feeling cold. Strong wind with showers and sun breaks in south Scotland and England, showers increasingly frequent from north, extended falls forming. Showers scattered in Wales, least rain south with lighter wind.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Frequent rain and severe gales; beginning to ease later
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 55-65mph, gusts to 70mph highest tops; trending northwesterly, though quite variable around Caithness where may lessen suddenly. Elsewhere, only gradually lessening, finishing near 40mph, further easing into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions well into the day: you will struggle to stay on your feet with buffeting gusts knocking you around even while crouching; significant wind chill. Effects will ease, but strenuous conditions until at least nighttime.
How Wet?
Persistent rain well into the day
A near constant stream of showers spills onto the Munros from the north and west, some bursts of hail and merging into persistent, extended spells of rain, particularly midday into afternoon. Will break up into showers later, scattering into evening with a little summit drizzle.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket cloud across the west coast hills rarely breaking above 500-600m, and often lower during heavier rain. May occasionally rise higher from Ben Wyvis to Easter Ross, but also returning widely. Beginning to break up a bit later in the day, but any summits unlikely to clear during daylight.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare bright glimpses. Largely poor visibility, hazy towards west coast, but tending to improve on low slopes late in the day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, cooling a degree later in the day. Feeling like -7 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 9th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 7th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-30mph, easing and shifting westerly, to 15mph; later southwesterly, restrengthening.
Effect of the wind on you?
A blustery start and feeling chilly, easing to small effects.
How Wet?
Soon dry
Spotty showers drift onto the Munros from the north and west in the morning, all quite light, and fading for a mostly dry day.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits with breaks for a time
May start fairly extensive near and north of Ullapool from middle slopes upward, patchier south and around Skye. Tending to lift to passing banks over high summits, well-broken for a time. More frequently grazing western summits into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine breaking out, extended sunny windows forming. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6C. Feeling like -5C in direct wind early, wind chill effect easing.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 10th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 7th Sep 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph, gradually strengthening, later 50mph towards the west coast with powerful gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly strenuous, later challenging conditions along the west coast with buffeting and notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mostly south, increasing
A little patchy rain drifts from the southwest, mostly Skye and nearby hills, only drizzly spots elsewhere for a time. Patches will increase, spreading widely, and later setting in persistently, heavy falls west.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Cloud shrouds the Cuillin from middle slopes up all day, nearby hills soon similarly shrouded. Towards the north and east, more broken, some summits east of Ullapool may clear for periods. With time, cloud becoming more widely extensive, always lowest south/west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% inland for a time, lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun to the north and east, mostly cloudy. Good visibility out of cloud and rain, increasingly widely poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C, only slight drop into night. Feeling like -1 to -3C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through the week with spells of rain and showers moving in from the Atlantic, accompanied by strong to gale force mountain winds. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops occasionally close to freezing point, feeling cold in the wind chill. A few high pressure ridges bring settled windows, notably afternoons of Wednesday and Friday; northwestern areas, particularly in Scotland, will tend to hold onto some hill cloud despite high pressure. Weather remains varied from the weekend into next week, Scotland most often unsettled, best windows of improvement to the south. A more settled period is indicated in the later month with warm temperatures.